Premier delivers blunt message to tourists: ‘You should plan to leave the state’

It is a troubling sign of the times: tourists are being encouraged to leave the state.

Tourists are being told to go home as the state enters virtual lockdown.

THERE was a time, just a few weeks ago, when Tasmania was trying to encourage tourists to visit. Not any more.

The message today from Premier Peter Gutwein couldn’t be further from normal: tourists, go home.

At his morning briefing, Mr Gutwein said the coronavirus pandemic was a time for locals to stay at home and for visitors to go back to where they came from.

“If you’re not a permanent resident, if you’re in a hotel at the moment, if you don’t meet the criteria of either being an essential worker or somebody that lives in a hotel, then you should plan to leave the state,” Mr Gutwein said.

“Go home. I’m sorry to stay that, but go home.”

MORE CORONAVIRUS NEWS:

HOW TO TALK TO CHILDREN ABOUT CORONAVIRUS

WHAT ‘UNPRECEDENTED’ STIMULUS PACKAGE MEANS FOR YOU

TASMANIAN PARLIAMENT SUSPENDED

The state’s tourism industry — one of our biggest employers and money spinners — had been hit hard by restrictions on hotels, clubs and restaurants, flight cancellations and a virtual shutdown of the state’s border.

Premier Peter Gutwein has urged tourists not to visit the state. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

Mr Gutwein said he would make no apologies for striving to keep Tasmanians safe and sending visitors home was part of that.

“We’re an island that was build on tourism and visitation and it hurts me to say this, but do not come and do not put Tasmanians at risk,” he said.

“If you do come, you’ll go into self-isolation for two weeks. It is that simple.“

Visitors who arrive in the state are being turned around, sent directly to their accommodation to wait out their two weeks or being sent to Government-provided accommodation at their own expense.

There are reports of interstate vehicles still entering the state on the Spirit of Tasmania ferries. Picture: AFP

Labor leader Rebecca White said reports of interstate vehicles still entering the state on the Spirit of Tasmania were troubling.

“Those already in the state are facing long delays of up to two weeks to return to the mainland as instructed,” she said.

“The closure of caravan parks at 11.59pm on Sunday means they will have nowhere to stay even though some can’t get their caravan on the Spirit until 15 April.

“What’s more, we’re hearing that those people who are trying to do the right thing are being charged an additional fee when they change their booking to return to the mainland and Tasmanians trying to return home are being charged fees to change their booking.

“In these extraordinary times, TT-Line should be supporting everyone to comply with these restrictions, not price gouging.”