Coronavirus: Tasmanian tourism operators anxious, bordering on broke

Tasmania’s peak tourism body has warned against ‘lagging behind’ other states in reopening borders.

Tourism Industry Council of Tasmania chief executive Luke Martin. Picture: Luke Bowden

Tasmania’s peak tourism body has warned against “lagging behind” other states in reopening borders, ratcheting up pressure on Premier Peter Gutwein to reveal a timetable for lifting border restrictions.

The Tourism Industry Council Tasmania board met on Wednesday, resolving to “strongly oppose” Tasmania holding out on borders once other states move, unless the Premier could show “clear and compelling advice of the public health risks”.

Mr Gutwein has ruled out an announcement on lifting border restrictions until July, telling The Australian he wants to see 28 days of zero cases in other jurisdictions before he reopens travel links with them.

With other jurisdictions potentially taking a less stringent position, Tasmanian tourism players are concerned about losing the post-pandemic scramble for domestic tourists.

The TICT, whose members have been hit hard by the virtual closure of the state’s vital $3.2bn tourism industry, said it did not want to see the island left behind.

“TICT believes Tasmania’s domestic border restrictions should be lifted as soon as possible if in accordance with public health advice, as part of a national approach to re-establishing non-­essential travel and domestic tourism between states,” said chief executive Luke Martin.

“The council strongly opposed Tasmania lagging behind other states in lifting our border restrictions, without the Tasmanian government making public clear and compelling advice of the public health risks posed to the Tasmanian community of removing ­restrictions.”

As well, there needed to be a “clear pathway and date for when restrictions will be eased”, Mr Martin said.

An estimated two-thirds of the state’s tourism trade comes from mainlanders and international visitors, and most operators cannot survive on intrastate custom.

Businesses have started to go bust and more have told The Australian they will follow shortly without border easing.

Franklin, one of Hobart’s top-end restaurants, shut for good last week, reliant as it was on the cashed-up visiting gourmands of Melbourne and Sydney.

Robert Ravens, of the Bridestowe Estate Lavender Farm in the state’s northeast, said he was losing $50,000 a month due to the closed-door policy. He said his business, which attracts an astonishing 85,000 visitors a year, could not survive for much longer.

“I’d be encouraging the opening of the borders as soon as possible,” he said. “ July is too late.”

Mr Gutwein urged patience. “Come July, I expect to be in a position to set a date for lifting our interstate border measures,” he told The Australian.

 “While I understand the frustration of our tourism operators, it is important to continue to put the health and safety of Tasmanians first by taking public health advice as to when and what may be ­appropriate in terms of interstate travel.”