Iconic historic site’s path to’living with Covid’
Despite visitor numbers plummeting by up to 90 per cent, the new head of one of Tasmania’s most iconic tourist attractions is confident about the future for the world-heritage listed site.
East Coast
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DESPITE visitor numbers plummeting by as much as much as 90 per cent because of Covid-19 border closures, the new head of the Port Arthur Historic Site is confident about the future for the world-heritage listed site.
Jonathan Fisher said when international borders closed visitor numbers dropped 30 per cent and Victoria and New South Wales typically represented 50 per cent of all visitors.
“So every day the borders are closed to these states, our visitor numbers are hit hard,” Mr Fisher said.
“That said, we were feeling confident at the start of this financial year, after a relatively buoyant Easter period.
“We saw our visitor numbers climb to within 80 per cent of 2019 attendances (before Covid) because more Australians were traveling within Australia, within Tasmania and enjoying our sites.
“But….the current prolonged closures of New South Wales and Victoria along with a significant drop in confidence to book travel, has seen our visitor numbers particularly mid-week drop to as low as 10 per cent of our pre-Covid figures.
“We do welcome more visitors over weekends and are really pleased to see some Queensland visitors starting to return.”
Mr Fisher said opening hours had been extended and special family tours would be offered in the school holidays this month.
“Sadly, I don’t think we are planning for ‘after Covid’ - rather how do we plan to ‘live with Covid’.
“In the months ahead, leading up to Christmas, we will be working with the tourism business community to promote a Tasman tourism recovery plan to attract more Tasmanians to our region and our sites.
“We will be putting this plan into action from October through to December, when we hope to see more confidence in vaccination rates and the prospect of visitors returning consistently and safely from the mainland around Christmas.
“We appreciate the support shown by Tasmanians visiting our sites – they have given our staff a reason to come to work and do what we are charged to do – to be globally recognised for excellence in telling the Australian convict story through outstanding conservation and tourism experiences.”
Mr Fisher said future plans were “all about balancing conservation with visitor experience and community”.
“It has never been more important than now with the borders closed for us to work closely with community. We want to ensure our communities feel welcome and want to visit our sites to support the recovery of our visitor economy, starting here in Tasmania.”
The biggest project underway is to finish the new $5m History and Interpretation Centre at the Cascades Female Factory by early 2022.
Meanwhile, the Government has signed a $1.25m funding agreement with the Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority to work with the National Trust Tasmania to establish a Convict Memorial Hub at the Hobart Penitentiary Chapel.
Heritage Minister Roger Jaensch said the hub would build on existing attractions and would be central to Tasmania’s convict trails, featuring an immersive, virtual presentation.
MEET THE MAN IN CHARGE
JONATHAN Fisher describes himself as an “Australian Englishman” and is relishing his dream job as the new head of the Port Arthur Historic site.
He knows he has big shoes to fill in replacing Stephen Large who successfully led the award-winning site for more than 20 years.
“I like to think that this role is akin to being the conductor of a very talented and experienced orchestra.
“We all work together to make the music, to deliver on plans for the sites which includes more than Port Arthur - it includes the Coal Mines Historic Site at Saltwater River, on the stunning Norfolk Bay and the Cascades Female Factory in South Hobart.”
Mr Fisher fell in love with Australia in 1986 when he was working in Fremantle, WA during the America’s Cup yacht races.
“It was there that I recognised the influence of big events in driving tourism and raising the profile of very special places.
“I was never going to settle easily back in the UK after such a fantastic time, so I gradually steered my career from general property into heritage tourism management and marketing to be eligible for migration to Australia in 2002.”
He worked at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo and the Hunter Valley Gardens before heading the National Trust of Queensland, whose major property is Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary.
“This is where I was first introduced to Tasmania through the ‘Save the Tasmanian Devil’ project which Currumbin supported. I remember visiting Unzoo on the Tasman Peninsula and thinking what a wonderful place to come and work and live.
“I have a passion for environmental, built and cultural heritage and am a strong believer in tourism supporting conservation – sustainable tourism.”
susan.bailey@news.com.au
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