Gold Coast tourism boss Patricia O’Callaghan says she respects process for Victoria’s lockdown

The Gold Coast’s tourism boss explains why the she respects the process around extending the lockdown gripping Victoria – and threatening a bumper influx ahead of Queen’s Birthday.

THE Gold Coast’s tourism boss says she respects the process around an extended lockdown gripping Victoria which is threatening a bumper influx ahead of Queen’s Birthday.

The pandemic-plagued state of Victoria had its fourth lockdown extended on Wednesday for a further week. It had been scheduled to end on Thursday this week.

The extension, after Victoria had six new cases overnight taking its total to 60, was required to avoid having case numbers “explode”, Acting Premier James Merlino said.

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Destination Gold Coast CEO Patricia O’Callaghan said: “Our thoughts are with Victoria and we respect the important process that they are undertaking.

“Victorians love visiting the Gold Coast in winter and we know this lockdown is having an impact (on the Coast) but we also know swift responses and short lockdowns have been successful in mitigating impacts.

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Destination Gold Coast chief executive Patricia O'Callaghan. Picture: Supplied.

“Hopefully we can welcome them back sooner rather than later. A swift national rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination program is also critical for our recovery,” she said.

Queensland Airports CEO Chris Mills said Melbourne residents accounted for 40 per cent of the airport’s traffic prior to the latest lockdown.

Queensland Airports Limited CEO Chris Mills. Picture: Jerad Williams.

Flights into the Gold Coast were at almost 80 per cent of pre-COVID numbers and Victoria’s current outbreak had a significant impact on those figures but it wasn’t all bad news.

“On a positive note, our other routes to Sydney, Canberra, Adelaide and Tasmania are above pre-COVID levels,” Mr Mills said. “And we have come to expect throughout 2021 to hit these speed bumps along the way and we have also seen how quickly things can be turned around.”

Mr Merlino said on Wednesday: “At the end of another seven days, we do expect to be in a position to carefully ease restrictions in Melbourne, but there will continue to be differences between the settings in Melbourne compared to regional Victoria.

“So I want to be upfront with people that even if all goes well, we won’t be able to have people from Melbourne travelling to regional Victoria during the Queen’s Birthday long weekend. The risk of exporting this virus is just too high.”

Tourism Research Australia data shows 111,000 Victorians visited Queensland in the December quarter.