Coronavirus Gold Coast: Tourism leaders back trans-Tasman bubble to bring Kiwis back to the Glitter Strip

The boss of Gold Coast Airport is urging Scott Morrison to fast-track the return of flights to New Zealand in the wake of talks to open a trans-Tasman travel bubble.

THE Gold Coast Airport boss is urging Australian and New Zealand governments to “fast-track” trans-Tasman travel zone talks for the sake of a crucial tourism recovery.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison yesterday held initial historic talks with his Kiwi equivalent Jacinda Ardern in a National Cabinet meeting with a “trans-Tasman bubble” top of the agenda.

Mr Morrison said they discussed opening the borders but admitted it was still “some way off”.

Ms Ardern said she felt “comfortable and confident” NZ would not receive COVID-19 cases from Australia if travel between the two countries resumed.

“Equally we won’t export them,” she said.

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Chris Mills. Photo: Steve Holland

Queensland Airports CEO Chris Mills urged Mr Morrison to fast-track the idea.

“We are really keen to see trans-Tasman travel opened up when it is safe to do so. We would encourage the Australian and NZ governments to fast track this idea.

“The Gold Coast tourism industry would benefit greatly from easing travel restrictions, in line with health advice, because NZ is one of our main visitor markets.”

Fellow Gold Coast tourism and political leaders said our “Kiwi cousins” would be welcomed back, with plans already afoot to market the Gold Coast across the ditch again as a key plank of reviving the city’s $6 billion tourism industry.

It would be a Slice of Heaven for Destination Gold Coast CEO Annaliese Battista who said the talks were an “enormously good” development.

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Annaliese Battista. Picture: Mike Batterham

“The city is well loved by Kiwis and we were having successful traction with our most recent campaign right up until the borders were closed,” she said. “It makes sense from a health and economic point of view and we will welcome our Kiwi cousins back.

“NZ has a unique love affair with the Gold Coast and this is something we would like to capitalise on.”

Yesterday’s appearance by Ms Ardern was the first time a NZ Prime Minister has been in a national cabinet since World War II, 75 years ago.

Last year 212,000 Kiwi tourists visited the Gold Coast and 1.3 million visited Australia overall.

Mayor Tom Tate yesterday backed the trans-Tasman bubble, saying it would be welcome to the Coast’s large Kiwi population.

Meanwhile Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said ending the NSW-Queensland border closure was unlikely in the short term.

“We review the border restrictions at the end of the month. I can’t see that happening any time soon.”