Accor Pacific CEO Simon McGrath says QLD must reveal reopening plan
New modelling shows when the Coast will hit its 80 per cent vax target as tourism chiefs plead with the Premier to set a date – and give operators hope.
Gold Coast
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TOURISM leaders are demanding an urgent state government roadmap out of Covid-19, as figures show the Gold Coast should reach an 80 per cent vaccination target in six weeks.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s signal that Queensland hitting the 80 per cent statewide vaccinated milestone may not be enough – and calling for an “even spread” of protection across the state – is angering city and tourism leaders.
Accor Pacific, the largest hotel operator in Australia with 101 properties and over 4200 Queensland staff, has called on the Government to follow the national plan and the 80 per cent target to provide a clear roadmap out of border lockdown.
“The Queensland state government is making the workforce suffer with the crippling uncertainty they have created,” Accor Pacific CEO Simon McGrath said.
“It is astonishing that a Labor state government is turning its back on tourism workers, by providing people with no clue as to when the borders will reopen. This is killing livelihoods and it is killing Queensland’s tourism industry.
“Everyday tourism businesses are losing money, and now there is a very real chance that they will miss out on Christmas, which means businesses will be forced to close.
“The Queensland state government is failing the workforce, it is time to set a firm date and reopen Queensland.”
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New estimates showing the Gold Coast will hit the 80 per cent vaccination target before the end of November.
Data crunched by News Corp, based on vaccination rates and trends, shows the state should see 80 per cent of residents 15 years and older double dosed by November 23.
The Coast slightly lags behind the state with its likely target date November 27.
The figures are based on weekly Local Government Authority vaccination data by federal government.
At the beginning of the week, 68.8 per cent of Gold Coasters aged 15 and older had received one dose, and 49.9 per cent had both.
Queensland Health has refused to comment on the modelling undertaken, whether the department had undertaken its own vaccination rate modelling for the state and Coast, and potential dates for the 80 per cent mark to be reached for double vaccinations.
“The Covid-19 vaccine is the best way to protect against severe Covid-19 disease and is a critical step in combatting the virus. We will only achieve a path out of the pandemic if people come forward and get vaccinated,” a spokesperson said.
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Mayor Tom Tate strongly backed Accor’s plea, saying Queensland risked being “a laughing stock” if the Premier did not outline a reopening plan soon.
“Accor’s message is both frightening and sobering. It is also right. Every business and every Gold Coaster needs hope – and certainty – right now,” he said.
“My urgent message to the Premier is: name a date. Businesses need it so they can plan their stock, their staff and their operating hours. Families book holidays weeks in advance, not hours. Once they name a date people will move quicker to get vaccinated as they will want to be a part of achieving that opening date.
“We will be the laughing stock of the tourism industry if Aussies can fly to Glasgow out of Sydney, yet they can’t fly to the Gold Coast.
“Ultimately, we will never get to a 100 per cent vaccinated in Australia and that’s life but given 80 per cent is the agreement under the National Plan, it isn’t hard for the State to do the estimates on when we will hit that date – and name that date publicly.
“That should be Border Freedom Day.’’
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Clark Kirby, the CEO of Movie World owner Village Roadshow theme parks, said his business needed certainty to help plan for a busy summer.
Mr Kirby said this was the time of year when his theme parks usually made decisions about increasing its workforce.
Queensland Airports CEO Chris Mills said the Gold Coast Airport operator “understands (Accor’s) frustration”.
“Gold Coast Airport is still operating at less than five per cent of pre Covid capacity with key markets closed,” he said.
“Until such time as clear targets are set there will be no confidence in travel bookings to the Gold Coast.
“The sooner there is a commitment to an opening date of a vaccination target, the sooner travellers can book with confidence, fly through the airport, stay at hotels and support local businesses.”
Destination Gold Coast Chairman Paul Donovan called for a roadmap to be released to offer certainty to “desperate” operators.
“The Gold Coast’s tourism industry has been decimated following more than 18 months of desperately trying to operate during this pandemic,” Mr Donovan said.
“A roadmap with a reopening date will give our 4,600 tourism businesses some certainty to navigate the best pathway out of this situation.
“The best thing that all Queenslanders can do is to get vaccinated and ensure we reach the government’s target in line with the National Plan.
“Our situation is becoming more desperate as every week goes by as acknowledged by the Mayor.”
Gold Coast tourism lost more than $1bn in the three months to September when compared to the same period in 2019.
Queensland’s borders have been closed to the greater Sydney area since June 23 and Victoria since July 17.
A State Government spokesperson said Covid-19 has had a devastating impact on the tourism industry.
“That’s why we’ve invested close to a billion dollars to support tourism operators doing it tough,” the spokesperson said.
“We fought hard against Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s decision to cut JobKeeper before the end of the pandemic – a decision that has sent many businesses to the wall.
“We’ll continue to do all that we can to support tourism businesses. Just today we’ve announced a new, $8m campaign to support the struggling tourism sector.
“The government will always follow the advice of our health experts to keep Queenslanders safe.”
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