Tourism Minister Dan Tehan says ‘patriotic duty’ to take holidays as business pushes to re-open border

Tourism Minister Dan Tehan is calling on all Australians to do their ‘patriotic duty’ and take a holiday within Australia.

Tourism Minister Dan Tehan says Australians should do their “patriotic duty” and take a holiday within Australia this year. Photo: iStock

Tourism Minister Dan Tehan is calling on all Australians to do their “patriotic duty” and take a holiday within Australia this year, as one of the nation’s biggest business groups pushes the Morrison government to lift international travel restrictions by September.

The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry briefed the government on Wednesday on a tourism revival timetable that would see all interstate borders lifted by August at the latest, caps on international arrivals removed by September and freer travel globally.

Dan Tehan during Question Time. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Business is pushing to revive both an international tourism sector worth $46bn, hurt by anti-COVID international travel restrictions, and an $81bn domestic sector damaged by impromptu border closures.

Mr Tehan will tell the Destination Australia conference in Sydney on Thursday that ­domestic tourism will be revived by a combination of federal ­support, a more consistent ­border approach from all the states and Australians choosing to take their holidays within Australia.

“We need Australians to take a holiday because every dollar spent on a holiday is a dollar that supports someone’s job, someone’s business and our tourism industry,” he will say.

“I understand the frustration with decisions being taken by state governments that are ­directly impacting on people’s livelihoods.

“To get the tourism sector across that bridge and to the other side of this pandemic is going to take a Team Australia effort.

“That means support from the federal government (and) a more consistent ... ‘shut down as a last option’ approach from state governments.”

Under the ACCI’s tourism revival plan, international travel would be reopened gradually via three stages, ending in September with tourists coming in from medium-risk countries.

The ACCI also wants Aus­tralian citizens with vaccinations or coming in from medium-risk countries to be allowed to self-isolate at home for seven days rather than for the current 14 day quarantine period at state ­government-run hotels.