Coronavirus Gold Coast: Government Ministers plan tourism revival

Senior Federal Government ministers say they are hatching a plan to revive the Gold Coast’s struggling tourism industry once the Coronavirus crisis passes.

SENIOR Federal Government ministers say they are hatching a plan to revive the Gold Coast’s struggling tourism industry once the coronavirus crisis passes.

Up to $500 million has been lost to the Coast’s economy in two weeks since the outbreak of the potentially deadly disease led to flight bans impacting tourists and tour groups from China.

The loss of the Coast’s biggest international visitor has brought the industry to its knees and forced traders to reduce staff hours.

Storm clouds are looming over the Coast’s economy. Picture Glenn Hampson

But Gold Coast-based Human Services Minister Stuart Robert, a close ally of Prime Minister Scott Morrison, said talks had been held to look at how the industry could recover.

“I am working alongside Minister for Tourism Simon Birmingham and my Gold Coast colleagues to ensure when the temporary travel restrictions are lifted, the Gold Coast and Australia more broadly quickly re-establishes our place as a hugely popular, welcoming and safe destination for Chinese visitors,” he said. “The Gold Coast is doing it tough on the back of the bushfire season and now the coronavirus outbreak. I encourage all Australians to holiday at Australia’s playground on the Gold Coast this year.”

Stuart Robert. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas)

Mr Birmingham confirmed the talks and called on the State Government to match its $76 million tourism package, which was announced initially to stimulate the industry in the wake of the summer bushfire crisis.

Tourists are staying away from the Coast following the Coronavirus outbreak. (Photo by Manan VATSYAYANA / AFP)

Mr Robert and fellow Gold Coast MPs Karen Andrews and Angie Bell met with Mr Birmingham to plead the Glitter Strip’s case.

“We have met with the Tourism Minister and had discussions with Destination Gold Coast to ensure that the needs of our city and operators are front and centre at this difficult time,” Ms Andrews told the Bulletin.

The State Government yesterday announced the Gold Coast would receive $2.4 million to be used to market the city to domestic tourists. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has called on the Federal Government to consider the coronavirus crisis a natural disaster and allow for tourism funding to be secured under the disaster recovery funding.

But Mr Morrison’s office yesterday insisted the fund was not designed for, or had ever been used to, combat disease outbreaks. He last week said that the funds had not been used during either the SARS or swine flu outbreaks.