Massive $567m hit to Tassie tourism in just two months

Half a billion dollars was wiped off Tasmania’s tourism sector in just two months at the peak of COVID-19 restrictions, new figures show, prompting fresh calls for locals to holiday at home.

TASMANIA’S tourism sector copped a $567 million blow in just two months at the peak of COVID-19 restrictions and after the state’s borders slammed shut.

About 478,000 fewer Australian tourists visited the state in April and May in an almost 90 per cent drop on the same time last year, new Tourism Research Australia data released today shows.

Nationwide, COVID-19 restrictions wiped $17 billion off Australia’s tourism sector in just the two months from the drop in overseas and local travellers.

In Tasmania, domestic tourist spending plunged $476 million on the same time last year. An extra $91 million was lost from international tourism vanishing, based on the amount overseas travellers pumped into the economy last year.

There was an $11.7 billion drop in domestic tourism and a $5.4 billion drop in spending by overseas visitors for the two months nationwide.

Federal Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch)

Federal Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham said feedback from the recent school holidays indicated tourism had bounced back in some areas.

But he urged people to keep backing Australian businesses with local holidays and bucket-list travel experiences.

“Australia is lucky enough to be home to some of the most unique and wonderful experiences, but with many of our top attractions most popular with international visitors, we need Australians to help fill the void until our international borders re-open again,” he said.

“We want Australians to make the most of what our county has to offer by not just going on a road trip but by booking an experience as well, whether it be touring the largest lavender farm in the southern hemisphere, making your own whisky in one of Tasmania’s many distilleries or kayaking down the Pieman River.”