Queensland tourism leaders call for easing of restrictions from other states

After weathering another coronavirus crisis, Queensland tourism leaders have turned their attention to one of the biggest issues facing the industry - borders.

Queensland tourism leaders have urged reluctant premiers to end the border bans crippling the industry.

After a collective sigh of relief at the end of Brisbane’s three-day lockdown on Monday, tourism’s focus now turns to restoring confidence among wary travellers from interstate.

The Northern Territory and ACT yesterday reacted to the news that Brisbane’s lockdown region had been lifted by immediately restoring travel arrangements, but state governments in Victoria, SA and WA have not budged.

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Tasmania has also retained some restrictions on travellers who have been in Brisbane since last Friday.

However, Queensland tourism leaders say the state’s swift containment of the new mutant coronavirus should give other states – and their residents, much-needed confidence to return to Queensland.

QT Hotel Surfers Paradise staff member Caroline Francato is looking forward to more bookings at the hotel after Brisbane’s lockdown was lifted on Monday. Picture: Nigel Hallett.

Queensland Tourism Industry Council CEO Daniel Gschwind said the end of the lockdown was welcome news, but operators needed certainty to help restore shattered confidence.

“The inconsistencies in border closures are clearly rattling the travelling public, so we certainly want to avoid hard border closures in favour of effective hot spot management such as what we have just witnessed here in Queensland,” he said.

“The way this potential outbreak was managed should give other states confidence about our ability to get on top of things quickly and in turn to give them the confidence to resume travel here.”

Queensland Tourism Industry Council CEO Daniel Gschwind. Picture: Peter Wallis.

Far North Queensland has been bleeding an estimated $8 million a day through lost visitation, with a 75 per cent drop in airport arrivals over the three-day Brisbane lockdown just the latest in a list of body blows in the past 12 months.

Tourism Tropical North Queensland CEO Mark Olsen said the end of the lockdown was a good start, but more steps needed to be taken to ensure the industry’s recovery.

“It’s a great relief – our operators are really feeling the pinch in a region where one in five jobs comes from tourism,” he said.

“We’ve just seen the NT (and ACT) lift restrictions and we would encourage WA and Victoria to do the same.”

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Destination Gold Coast Chairman Paul Donovan said operators were thankful that Brisbane had emerged from lockdown after only three days.

“The Queensland Government is to be commended for their swift response to ensure the situation in Greater Brisbane doesn’t get out of control,” he said.

“The easement to unrestricted travel is welcomed news for Gold Coast tourism operators, particularly as Brisbanites represent our largest drive market.”

Brisbane Airport saw a 50 per cent fall in passenger movements across the weekend with thousands of cancellations caused by the lockdown.

An airport spokeswoman said they were anticipating ‘a more wary travelling public’, particularly while other states continue to consider Brisbane a virus hot spot.

Some operators actually experienced an upturn during the lockdown, such as QT Gold Coast with general manager Steven Oakley saying many cancellations were filled by last-minute travellers, while other holiday-makers extended their stay rather than return to Brisbane for a weekend of lockdown.

“We saw guests extend their trip and soak up the sun by our new pool rather than go home and into lockdown,” he said.