Tourism-drive market in trouble after new travel restrictions Northwest faces big hit
NORTHWEST Queensland is not immune to the devastating economic impacts of coronavirus.
The tourism-drive market is a lifeline for businesses in the Mckinlay, Flinders and Mount Isa regional council areas, but with tough new travel restrictions in place the regions will suffer a major economic blow.
Flinders Shire Council Mayor Jane Mcnamara said her region relied heavily on drive-through tourists stopping at businesses and the dinosaurs.
With the Dirt and Dust festival in the Mckinlay Shire Council area postponed, Ms Mcnamara said she was concerned how businesses would fare through the tourism season.
“We don’t really start until April,” she said. “So we really don’t know if people will travel, but I suspect there will be a lot less people on the roads.”
Mckinlay Mayor Belinda Murphy said businesses in her region would take a big hit.
“Tourism has really helped these small communities,” she said. “Our aim is to ensure the health of our community and being able to keep everyone working is something we need to do.”
In an attempt to stem a huge economic downturn expected in the regions, Cr Murphy said the council was already discussing what could be done.
She said Dirt and Dust bought thousands of people to the region and hotels, motels, cafes and restaurants were already in decline before the Federal Government brought in new lockdown rules.
The new rules led to the closure of all pubs, clubs and restaurants.
“It’s a huge economic impact for our towns’ businesses … it’s the council caravan park financial income for the year in one hit,” Cr Murphy said.
Mckinlay Shire Council was also trying to bring forward council works to ensure there was a steady flow of work.
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Mayor Joyce Mcculloch said businesses in her region were very “resourceful”.
“I think in Mount Isa, because we are so far removed from other localities … businesses do tend to work outside the norm anyway,” she said.
Cr Mcculloch expected there would be a hit to the region’s tourism economy, but the council was reviewing how it could help the region’s businesses.
She said the region was “on the front foot” in reacting to the coronavirus pandemic.