New Zealand border restrictions to hurt already struggling businesses

Tourism operators say they’re losing yet another market as New Zealand bursts the Trans-Tasman bubble. THE FALLOUT >>

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The trans-Tasman bubble being suspended is another blow to Tasmanian tourism operators already facing a tough time, according to Tourism Industry Council Tasmania.

Chief executive officer Luke Martin said New Zealand was not as big a market to Tasmania as the mainland, but businesses would still be affected.

“It’s important to recognise New Zealand flights are only twice a week, so it’s not a big impact relative to Victoria and New South Wales being locked down,” Mr Martin said.

“Nevertheless, it’s another market closed to us, and the list of markets open seems to be getting smaller by the day.”

One businesses already struggling is Tasmanian Wild Seafood Adventures.

Skipper Ben Dawn noticed an increase in New Zealand traffic lately, but said they would now lose business.

“Of the guests we get on our trips, the New Zealanders account for about twenty per cent,” Mr Dawn said.

“Zealanders love their seafood as much as we do and the knowledge that we’re here was starting to get around in New Zealand.

Cuttlefish skipper Ben Dawe of Tasmanian Wild Seafood Adventures at Hobart after the New Zealand travel bubble was suspended. Picture Chris Kidd

“I guess it’s always disappointing when an avenue of revenue gets closed off.”

The business runs boat trips where fisherman prepare fresh seafood on-board.

“We leave Hobart and travel down to the north end of Bruny Island and cook up abalone, periwinkles, mussels, we cook up crayfish on the way home,” Mr Dawn said.

“The owner of the business is an abalone diver and I used to manage an oyster farm, we have people who have worked on cray boats and things like that.”

Mr Dawn said the business was already struggling with the closure of interstate borders.

“I guess once Victoria and NSW shut down we felt the hit straight away,” Mr Dawn said.

“It’s the nail in the coffin for this time of year unfortunately.”

But he said the timing could be worse.

Cuttlefish skipper Ben Dawe of Tasmanian Wild Seafood Adventures at Hobart after the New Zealand travel bubble was suspended. Picture Chris Kidd

“The only saving grace for us is that it’s occurred during our slow season,” the skipper said.

“If this were to happen in summer time, it would affect us a lot more.

“If it continues on for a month or so, it will affect us to a greater degree.”

Hobart Airport said it’s still working to understand what the travel bubble suspension will mean for flights.

“While this is disappointing, we are confident that given the performance of the service so far, once restrictions ease we will again see strong interest in the route,” An airport spokesman said.

“We were experiencing excellent uptake of the trans-Tasman flights prior to this recent news.

“We look forward to growing the amount of weekly flights on this service as we move toward the end of this calendar year.”