Tourism takes a $570m punch

TASMANIA’S tourism sector copped a $567m 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 shows.

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

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

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

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 bucketlist 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 reopen again,” Senator Birmingham said.

“We want Australians to make the most of what our country 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.”