Tourism calls for more support
SCOTT Morrison’s promise to allow international travel to resume will do little for Australia’s ailing tourism sector, according to new figures from the industry peak body.
The Prime Minister’s plan to allow international travel from November, combined with easing of restrictions in NSW, is expected to help operators but the sector has warned more pain is still to come.
One in three tourism businesses face extinction within three months, according to the Tourism and Transport Forum research. It fears the lingering uncertainty on domestic and international borders will continue to cripple activity.
More than 40 per cent warn the industry will be worse off in three months and 29 per cent say the outlook will remain grim for the next year, according to a survey of 500 businesses.
The concerning projections have forced many to consider abandoning the industry, with 70 per cent exploring other sources of revenue.
“Travel hesitancy will linger for both the leisure and corporate travel markets as long as Australians feel they are at the mercy of policymakers playing border roulette and while quarantine requirements remain in place,” the peak body’s chief executive, Margy Osmond, said.
“In the long-term, there is a real fear that major and highyield inbound markets outside of the US and UK will remain directly shut off until they are deemed as safe countries by the federal government and quarantine-free travel opens up for double-vaccinated tourists.”
Ms Osmond said governments would be forced to further support the sector.
“Many internationally reliant tourism operations . . . will simply be unable to pivot their products and offerings to save their businesses,” she said.
“It will take a combination of concerted and strategic international engagement and investment by state and federal governments to re-attract key aviation routes while at the same time providing targeted financial support for internationally reliant tourism operators so that they can stay afloat during this time.”