Coronavirus: ‘Get adventurous’ plea as tourism loses $23bn and rising

Australia’s tourism industry lost $11.8bn in April and May after international borders closed and states went into lockdown.

Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham wants Australians to book ‘wonderful experiences’ to help revive the decimated industry, like shark cage diving at SA’s Eyre Peninsula, and not just head on road trips. Picture: Adventure Bay Charters

Australia’s tourism industry lost $11.8bn in April and May after international borders closed, states went into lockdown and those who could afford to travel spent about half as much per night as they normally would.

The confirmation for one of the sectors worst hit from COVID-19 comes as Trade and Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham appeals to Aussies to book “wonderful experiences” when they go away — such as cage diving with sharks in Port Lincoln or jet boat riding on the Gold Coast — rather than simply heading to a beach house or going bushwalking.

New government data to be released on Friday shows the tourism industry contracted by 87 per cent in April and May, with domestic spending down from $13.5bn in those two months last year compared with just $1.7bn this year.

The worst losses were in NSW ($3.6bn), Queensland ($2.7bn), Victoria ($2.6bn) and the Northern Territory ($1.1bn).

 

While Australians spent $658 on average per night away in April and May 2019, analysis of the Tourism Research Australia figures reveal that amount declined to $372 during the same time this year.

“We want Australians to make the most of what our country has to offer by not just going on a road trip but by booking an experience as well, whether it be taking a surf lesson in Byron Bay, making your own whisky in Tasmania, kayaking through Nitmiluk Gorge or learning indigenous art skills in Ceduna,” Senator Birmingham said.

“Not only will this provide them with the opportunity to perhaps try something new or tick off a bucket list activity, but it will go a long way in helping to support those operators and businesses that rely on the millions of international visitors who travel here each year to enjoy all of these ­experiences.”

The tourism industry lost $5.8bn in the first few months of the year as international and domestic travellers reduced their movements.

Another $5.4bn spent on international tourism in April and May 2019 has not been spent this year, meaning $23bn was wiped from the sector between January and May.

Nights away from home decreased from nearly 20.5 million in April and May 2019 to just 4.6 million nights during the same period this year.

Senator Birmingham also increased pressure on premiers to open up to states with no coronavirus community transmission, citing his home state of South Australia’s travel bubble with so-called “safe” states as a good ­strategy.

“At some point, it (border ­closure) passes the point of being reasonable or acceptable,” Senator Birmingham told ABC radio.

“Some states like SA, which had complete border controls in place before but has now opened up to Queensland, the Northern Territory, WA and Tasmania … without any detrimental impacts, provide an example for the other states to at least think about similarly opening up.”

Australian Tourism Industry Council executive director Simon Westaway said the sector was concerned there had not been an agreed set of principles from the states to border restrictions.

He vowed to work with the Morrison government to establish a national strategy.

“Business confidence is very low. There’s been a double down on border strategies.

“Each premier and territory leader has tried to outdo themselves in recent weeks on the strength of their borders and it has a two-fold impact,” Mr Westaway said.

“Firstly, it drives consumer confidence lower and, secondly, it impacts the existing people prepared to travel because of restrictions put in place.”

Australians spent $105bn on tourism in 2019.