Tasmanian hospitality and tourism leaders have criticised the state government’s border lockout

Tasmanian tourism and hospitality leaders have slammed the state government’s latest border lockout, saying December 1 must be an “essential deadline” for the state to return to normal, if operators are to survive.

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SECTIONS of Tasmania’s tourism and hospitality industries have slammed the state government’s latest border lockout, citing the challenges it will pose for local businesses.

Announced by Premier Peter Gutwein during the resumption of state parliament yesterday, Tasmania will not reopen its borders to interstate travel until at least December 1.

The move, designed to “build the community’s trust in our border measures”, has been met with criticism from industry leaders, as calls re-emerge for Tasmania to open its borders to other states showing no signs of community coronavirus transmission.

“We still believe the right way to go is an expanding national travel bubble among states reporting none or very few cases of COVID-19, to compliment our local Tasmanian market,” Tourism Industry Council of Tasmania chief executive Luke Martin said.

“We struggle to understand why we now have to wait until December to open to states like Western Australia and South Australia who have effectively had no community transmission for months.”

Luke Martin from TICT. Tourism recovery plan launch at Grand Chancellor. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

Mr Martin said December 1 must be “an essential deadline” for the state government to reintroduce some interstate travel in time for Tasmania’s summer festive season.

Tasmanian Hospitality Association chief executive Steve Old said he had been bombarded with messages and phone calls from industry workers concerned about the three-month interstate lockout.

“Workers are dumbfounded and surprised that the border reopening date has been pushed back that far, and some have expressed concerns that perhaps authorities have not given us a clear enough indication of the pandemic situation in other states,” he said.

“Several venues have already reported cancellations of bus trips and other services.

“If the borders are shut for that long and social restrictions here don’t ease, it will be death knell for many businesses.”

Wine Guide. Pooley Wines, Richmond.

Wine Tasmania chief executive Sheralee Davies said the state’s wine industry was hoping borders would be reopened in the lead up to summer.

“We were hoping we would be able to gear up to summer – a key period of time for tourism more generally, and so too, our cellar doors,” she said.

“We still have a glimmer [of hope] summer might be possible. In the meantime we will be really trying to work on how we can promote Tasmanian wine to Tasmanian wine lovers interstate so we can hopefully see some of that benefit coming through to our economy.”