Devastating toll of pandemic on Queensland tourism laid bare

Once the star of the economy, Queensland’s tourism industry has dropped out of the top 10 as devastating losses continue.

It’s been the shining star of the Queensland economy, but tourism has slumped out of the state’s top 10 industries as the coronavirus pandemic leaves a trail of devastation.

New research to be released today by the Tourism & Transport Forum reveals almost 40,000 jobs have disappeared in the industry in the past 14 months, with dire predictions another 16,000 will be gone by Christmas.

With the total cost of the pandemic to the sector now estimated at more than $20 billion, tourism has plummeted from the top five employers to outside the top 10.

From heartbreaking scenes in deserted Cairns in the north, to panic and frustration at Coolangatta in the south, the tourism and hospitality industries have been pushed to breaking point with leaders delivering an urgent SOS to all levels of government to save the industry before there is nothing left to save.

Border barriers are having a devastating impact on tourism on the deserted southern Gold Coast. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Queensland was responsible for 135,000 tourism jobs in June 2020, but by December that number is expected to plummet to just 84,000.

TTF chief executive officer Margy Osdmond said only a targeted support program similar to JobKeeper would help the industry ride out the dark days ahead.

“We need something that walks, talks and acts like JobKeeper,” she said.

“The tourism industry is unique in a lot of ways and if you still want to have a tourism industry this time next year, we need more government help, because our industry is effectively buggered.”

Federal Tourism Minister Dan Tehan said the Australian government had already invested billions on tourism support measures including an aviation package and a relief and recovery fund and was looking at other measures.

“We remain committed to working with the Queensland Government, in partnership, to support the domestic tourism industry,” he said.

With its reliance on international visitors, tourism in Cairns and far north Queensland has been decimated, but the southern Gold Coast has become the new Ground Zero, with the border blockade causing havoc with local businesses that rely on workers and customers from interstate.

Bellakai owner Anna Lyn and barista Indi McPhillips are worried about the impact of border closures and lockdowns on business. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Anna Lyn, who runs the Bellakai restaurant in Coolangatta, said the past two months had been diabolical with worse trading figures than the height of the pandemic last year when it was open for takeaway only.

Half of the restaurant’s staff are now stranded in NSW and unable to turn up for work.

Member for Currumbin Laura Gerber said border communities were “on their knees.”

Member for Currumbin Laura Gerber

“Families are split across the border, with people sleeping on their shop floors, trying to keep their doors open and locals in a job,” she said.

“They desperately need targeted support and a plan for the future to survive.

“The State Government must step up and support the small and family businesses who are being asked to shoulder the burden of the of the border closure for the rest of Queensland.”

A spokeswoman for Queensland Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman said the government was “committed to working closely with industry to find solutions through this challenging environment”.

Originally published as Devastating toll of pandemic on Queensland tourism laid bare