Manly businesses fear for future after coronavirus, bushfires, floods scare off tourists
Manly businesses say bushfire smoke, floods and now the coronavirus means they’re doing it tough, with one saying it’s the worst year he’s had in 25 years.
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Businesses in Manly say they’re concerned about their future after the bushfire smoke and now the coronavirus has caused tourists to stay away.
Commonwealth Bank figures show the number of sales between January and March this year is down by more than 37 per cent compared with last year.
Meanwhile, a report released by the Tourist and Transport Forum looking at the future impact of coronavirus on Australian tourism provides grim reading with a prediction of job losses in bars and restaurants, a reduction in tour and hotel bookings and associated losses for souvenir shops.
Craig Moulds owner and director of Manly Kayak Centre said it had been his worst year of trading since he started the business 25 years ago.
“We have had eight weeks of poor turnover in a row,” he said
“It’s been bushfire smoke, floods and now coronavirus.
“These are very challenging times.”
He said the business was up on last year until January 6 when two weeks of bushfire smoke really hit hard.
Then there was 10 days of really heavy rain and then COVID-19 began to bite.
“We traded reasonably well last weekend but as the intensity of the coronavirus grows it seems that panic is setting in and people are avoiding going out in public places,” Mr Moulds said.
He said he’s not been able to employ as many casuals as usual.
Warringah MP Zali Steggall said she had been contacted by several local businesses concerned about their future.
Today she called for the Government to put in place stimulus or assistance packages to help the broader economy.
“Businesses are continuing to suffer from the ripple effects of this summer’s bushfire crisis and now the ongoing effects of the coronavirus,” she said.
“In Warringah, business owners that normally have their peak season in summer say they’re doing it tough due to the decrease in tourism numbers that’s been felt since January.
“I would urge the federal government to put in place stimulus or assistance packages to help the broader economy.”
Her call is being backed by the Tourism and Transport Forum.
In a new report it published analysing the impact of the coronavirus it predicted international visitors to Australia would drop by 1.8m between January and June this year with an average loss post-March 2020 in total tourism receipts from all inbound markets at $2b on a per month basis.
It also predicted tourism job losses of between 15 to 20 per cent equating to around 99,000 to 133,200 jobs in mostly part-time, casual and contract positions.
“Whilst the outbreak has not yet reached the classification of a pandemic the treasurer has indicated that the economic impact will be greater than the bushfires and it will play-out more broadly across the Australian economy,” the report found.
“What is unique about tourism is that we have been directly in the firing line for both crises.”