Brisbane lockdown another blow for struggling clubs, hotels and tourism operators

First it was Sydneysiders banned from Queensland, now Brisbanites have been told to stay home in another blow for tourism operators.

Any longer than a weekend lockdown for Greater Brisbane residents would be a major body blow for already struggling tourism, hotel and club operators, industry leaders say.

Residents in Brisbane, Ipswich, Logan, Moreton Bay and Redlands council areas will be confined to their homes from 6pm on Friday until 6pm on Monday.

Lockdown has ruled out day trips or weekend getaways to popular destinations such as the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast with a mountain of accommodation cancellations expected, says Queensland Tourism Industry Council CEO, Daniel Gschwind.

Queensland Tourism Industry Council CEO Daniel Gschwind said it could be catastrophic for the industry if the Greater Brisbane lockdown extends beyond one weekend. Picture: Attila Csaszar

Queensland’s tourism operators are already reeling from cancellations that followed Thursday’s announcement Greater Sydney residents would be locked out of the state until at least February.

Providing Greater Brisbane is only in lockdown over the weekend, then the pain should be short, sharp and worth it in the long run, Mr Gschwind said.

“It’s a significant disruption,” he told NCA NewsWire.

“We are hoping this short term pain will be for long term gain and it’s just three days and we move back to a normal situation.

“There will be cancellations as a result, there’s no doubt about that, but we share the same hope that it’s just one weekend and it’s not a catastrophic impact.”

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk called a lockdown to allow contact tracers time to follow-up on contacts of a cleaner who contracted the highly contagious UK strain of COVID — 19. Pics Tara Croser.

Greater Brisbane residents will only be permitted to leave their residence over the next three days to attend work, shop for essentials, seek medical help, provide essential care and exercise.

The drastic measures have been brought in to stymie the spread of a mutant, highly contagious strain of COVID-19 from the UK that has been contracted by a cleaner at a hotel used to quarantine international travellers.

Clubs Queensland CEO Kelly Egan said members could ill afford a shutdown than ran any longer than three days as they had still not recovered from last year’s lockdown and heavy restrictions on venue capacities.

“We don’t want it going any longer than one weekend,” Mr Egan said.

Queensland Hotels Association CEO Bernie Hogan says any restrictions impact’s industry confidence and the latest announcement will be no different. Picture: Supplied

Clubs Queensland CEO Kelly Egan says the industry can ill afford longer than a weekend shutdown. Picture: Supplied

Queensland Hotels Association CEO Bernie Hogan was sympathetic for his affected members but thankful it was just Greater Brisbane in lockdown.

“Our tourism industry has been battered all year and this is a continuation of that and they are still struggling through,” he said.

“Any change in restrictions always impacts confidence and there will be cancellations and that is unavoidable.

“The Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast are open, but this will impact on our industry undoubtedly, but this will protect the state on a longer-term basis.”