Industry hopeful for swift tourism reboot

AUSTRALIAN tourists spent almost $1 billion in Tasmania in the first three months of 2020 before the full force of COVID-19 hit.

It was the only state in Australia to see a multimillion-dollar spike in domestic tourist spending for the quarter.

Nationwide, the tourism sector copped an almost $6 billion hit from January to March from the double blow of bushfires and coronavirus.

Domestic tourists spent $1.9 billion less than the same time last year, while international visitor spending plunged by $3.9 billion, Tourism Research Australia figures show.

But Tassie bucked the trend, recording an uptick of $83 million in spending by Australian tourists, compared to the first quarter of 2019.

The spending boost to $948 million by 846,000 tourists occurred despite 137,000 fewer domestic tourists visiting compared to the same time last year. International tourist visits to Tassie also took a hit due to coronavirus, with 28,000 fewer visitors in January to March compared to last year.

The amount overseas tourists spent in the state also dropped $30 million compared to 2019.

Federal Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham said all Australians owed thanks to tourism businesses and workers “who have borne the brunt of restrictions to keep us safe”.

“As government considers what future assistance may be necessary beyond September, the best thing that many Australians can do to support these businesses is to book a holiday here in Australia,” he said. Marina Beck, whose family owns and manages the Riverfront Motel & Villas in Hobart, said business was “booming” before coronavirus hit.

“We had lots of international and national tourists, lots of corporate people coming from here, there and everywhere, so we were in a better position than we ever have been,” she said.

COVID-19 hit the sector like a sledgehammer, but Ms Beck said Tasmanian travellers had started to return, and the sector hoped to attract a wave of mainland tourists when borders reopened from July 24. “Obviously, Tasmania has something really special to offer, and we’re really hoping that because international travel is not an option in the short term that people look at Tassie as a hot spot to visit.”