AACB WARNS EVENTS WILL GO

The Association of Australian Convention Bureaux has urged the Government to provide a clear pathway to the reopening of Australia’s international borders, with CEO Andrew Hiebl (pictured) saying that the current policy paralysis in terms of dropping restrictions means that “business events as a catalyst to driving travel, innovation, trade and the growth of industries cannot occur”.

Last week’s Federal Budget dropped a pall of gloom across the industry, with assumptions that a gradual reopening of “fortress Australia” will not commence until mid-2022.

In a video update Hiebl lamented the Budget outcome, saying: “I cannot help but feel that the tourism and events industry was left wanting”.

Hiebl said his organisation’s members had been extremely successful in retaining business thus far, with more than 70% of 318 confirmed future international business events having been successfully postponed at this stage.

“However this position cannot be maintained indefinitely,” he said, with 200 events having also been cancelled, representing more than 75,000 high value overseas visitor arrivals for Australia’s capital cities and regional destinations.

‘If we are not in a position to host these premium events in Australia, others will be,” Hiebl warned - while noting that despite the uncertainty, Australia’s convention bureaux continue to bid for and secure business over the long term.

“Australia must have a plan towards enabling delegates from around the world to meet here, classified as essential business travel,” he said.

From a domestic perspective, Hiebl said there had been a 25% increase in the confirmed number of business events for their respective destinations on the forward calendar, compared with the same position six months ago.