Tourism sector seeks rescue package
CALLS are growing from Gold Coast tourism operators for the Federal Government to divert some of the $60 billion JobKeeper savings into a package for the hard-hit sector.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg yesterday told breakfast TV it was possible his government could provide more tourism sector help due to the $60 billion JobKeeper estimates gaffe.
Mr Frydenberg said it was partly because tourism was facing international borders being closed for some time.
Gold Coast businesses are facing a double whammy – not only are international borders shut, blocking Chinese and Kiwi tourists, but the closure of the Queensland-NSW state border means they could also miss out on the lucrative winter peak season trade.
JobKeeper, $1500-a-fortnight wage subsidies helping prop up businesses and staff, is due to end in September.
Con-X-ion CEO Stuart Stratton, whose door-to-door airport transfer service takes in the Gold Coast, said huge challenges faced by tourism businesses meant support had to be extended into July next year.
“The absolute best-case scenario is we might end up with half the normal peak season,” he said. Mr Stratton said it would not be enough to get businesses through the lean times come February.
“In February, March, April, May next year, none of the operators would have had the opportunity for peak season to bankroll the quiet season.
“The biggest concern is making sure any support put in place must carry through to June, July, next year so (businesses) are ready for the next peak season. Otherwise there will be operators falling over left, right and centre.”
Mr Stratton, whose business has 120 workers on JobKeeper, said the industry faced unique pressures such as vehicle and boat financing, which needed to be addressed.
Accommodation giant
Accor’s chief operating officer Simon McGrath, in charge of managing a number of Gold Coast resorts and hotels under the Mantra and Peppers brands, said tourism had been devastated. “We’re still at the infant stages of reopening,” he said. “Any momentum being seen in leisure is a very small step forward.”
Mr McGrath said people in the tourism sector needed to be kept on JobKeeper, or some other assistance, until at least December.
“The December to January period … there will be more momentum in tourism and borders opened, more facilities open and it will be a stronger period than September.”