Tourism in top form before virus trouble

TOURISTS flocked to Tasmania in January despite images of the nation’s horror bushfires going global, new visitor numbers show.

International visitor trips to Tasmania were 22.4 per cent higher in January than the same month last year, according to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

And the number of visits from Chinese tourists – the state’s biggest international market – was almost 60 per cent higher than January 2019.

It’s a sign the industry was in a strong position before the coronavirus outbreak prompted the Australian Government to effectively close the borders this week by implementing a 14-day selfisolation period for all new arrivals, including citizens.

Tourism Industry Council Tasmania chief executive Luke Martin said there would be a “pretty dramatic fall” in visitor numbers from coronavirus but the results showed Tasmania had a strong foundation.

With accommodation providers and tourism operators seeing mass cancellations, he said: “It’s bleak going forward for the next few months.”

But Mr Martin predicted the disruption wouldn’t be long-term, saying: “Just as quickly as things have slowed, there will be a recovery.”

Premier Peter Gutwein is set to unveil his economic stimulus package in parliament today as the state and federal governments try to cushion the blow of coronavirus.

An economic rescue package to prevent widespread job losses in the tourism and hospitality sectors and to keep businesses afloat is also being considered by Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

Mr Gutwein said the State Government would respond to the challenges in a “proportionate and scalable way”.

“Tourism Tasmania has developed a recovery response plan that will position our state well for when the market begins to recover post this difficult period,” he said.

The plan will redirect $2 million of its existing budget, and an additional $1 million, towards marketing campaigns to encourage Tasmanians to holiday at home this year.

Overall, international tourists took about 10,400 trips to Tasmania in January, compared to 8500 the same time last year. Chinese tourists accounted for about 2100 trips.