JobKeeper: Tourism industry leaders call for crisis talks in Canberra

National tourism industry leaders are lobbying for assistance in Canberra, saying more than half will go under - but Far North operators say the State Government should pitch in too.

SIXTY per cent of tourism businesses will go bust unless the federal government throws a financial lifeline to the sector after JobKeeper ends on March 28 and the Far North will be squarely in the firing line.

Tourism chiefs are holding crisis talks with Federal Tourism Minister Dan Tehan to plead for a lifeline in coming months – but Far North tourism operators say the state government should pitch in.

Clint Carroll of Cairns Dive Adventures has no doubt more than 60 per cent of tourism businesses are vulnerable, saying sudden border shutdowns, the end of school holidays and the absence of the international market the region has relied on were all having an impact.

“People’s customer base is going to zero or minimal numbers and without JobKeeper they won’t be able to keep staff on,” Mr Carroll said.

Clint Carroll, of Cairns Dive Adventures on the Esplanade, says a tourism specific assistance package is critical and the industry has contributed more than its fair share in recent decades. Picture: Bronwyn Farr.

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“Maybe the state government could come to the party a little bit as well, the federal government has done a lot of the heavy lifting – if we had something targeted specifically for tourism it would help.”

Cairns and Gold Coast Hot Air Balloons regional manager Greg Daven said a financial assistance package from the federal government was vital, but the state government’s border closures severely dented consumer confidence to travel

“It’s very difficult right now and we are looking at going back to operating just on weekends,” he said.

“The state government needs to step up to the plate because its decisions have had the greatest impact on the industry, and we are seeing the results.”

Greg Daven of Cairns Hot Air Balloons is among those considering reduced days of operation due to absent tourists. Picture: Russell Freeman.

Interstate visitors were reluctant to get on a plane – and 88 per cent of the Far North’s tourists arrive via air – because they feared being caught in a sudden lockdown.

“Even though the industry has made it easy with flexible bookings and refunds, visitors are still gun shy, they don’t want to get caught out.

“People have jumped on a plane full of confidence when they departed, only to find when they landed they had to go into 14 days quarantine,” Mr Daven said. “We rely heavily on a two to four week booking period and if we can’t get clarity on borders staying open it will impact Easter and the June-July school holidays.”

Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA) chair Tom Manwaring said the industry was facing a crisis.

“It will decimate the industry if there’s no further support after 1 April,” he said. “We estimate the collapse could be as high as 60 per cent.”

Tourism Minister Dan Tehan said some support for the industry could be forthcoming, saying he would “continue to consult and work with the tourism sector across Australia, on a post-JobKeeper plan for tourism.”

Labor Senator for Queensland Nita Green said more businesses in the Cairns postcode were relying on JobKeeper than in any other Queensland postcode, and Perth and Adelaide.

Originally published as JobKeeper: Tourism industry leaders call for crisis talks in Canberra