Coronavirus: tourism operators frustrated by border delay
Tourism operators are frustrated by the lack of assurance over Queensland borders opening to Sydney and Victoria next month.
Tourism operators hit by reduced interstate Christmas holiday bookings are frustrated by the lack of assurance from Annastacia Palaszczuk over the prospect of the Queensland borders opening to Sydney and Victoria next month.
After Friday’s national cabinet meeting, the Premier said she was hopeful of lifting COVID-induced border restrictions before Christmas, but did not budge on her refusal to lock in a date, despite two weeks of no cases in Victoria.
She said the decision to open borders to Victorians and greater Sydney would be reviewed at the end of the month.
Ms Palaszczuk said the national cabinet had agreed that opening all borders by Christmas was desirable, but she would wait on advice from Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young at the end of the month before making a decision. “There is a national aspiration to have the borders open before Christmas,” she said. “In relation to Victoria, we are very encouraged with what is happening down there and we will be looking very closely at the end of the month at Victoria and also NSW.”
Asked whether the decision to delay the border reopening decision to the end of the month would deter interstate holiday-makers, Ms Palaszczuk said it would not prevent people from booking ahead in hope. “They could book and then at the end of the month they can pay the rest of their deposit,” she said.
Qantas reiterated its calls for Queensland to take a “risk-based approach” and open the borders with Sydney.
“It’s frustrating to see Queensland still closed off to Sydney, given it’s probably doing the best of any city its size in keeping control of the virus,” a Qantas spokesman said.
A Virgin Australia Group spokesman said the indecision was affecting bookings. Since the Queensland government’s decision to remain closed to greater Sydney, Virgin Australia has cancelled more than 100 Queensland services in November, and moved to provide thousands of customers with a travel credit or accommodated them on alternative services.
Queensland Tourism Industry Council chief executive Daniel Gschwind said people were deterred by the uncertainty around restrictions being lifted.
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