CITY’S BIG NIGHT BUT NOW WHAT?
Measures to contain virus look set to dent growth from venue
A TOWNSVILLE economist expects the tourism industry to be the “big loser” in the coronavirus shutdown just days after many vendors celebrated one of their biggest days of trade thanks to flocks of interstate football fans.
Colin Dwyer said the city’s small tourism sector would feel the force of the tighter restrictions after the Federal Government announced all nonessential gatherings of more than 500 people should be canned to slow the spread of COVID-19.
His concerns come just two days after Townsville was packed with rugby league fans from across the country to watch the NRL game between the Cowboys and the Broncos in the city’s new Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
The influx of tourists in the
CBD brought huge crowds to many pubs and clubs, including the Cowboys Leagues Club, but business development manager Helen Smyth said many businesses were left in limbo since the crowd restriction announcement.
“Everyone’s disappointed but obviously it’s a step that has to be taken,” she said.
Tiny Mountain Brewery manager Tim Bennie said the venue sold 15 kegs of a special brew, Cowboys Castle, in one of its biggest nights of trade on Friday.
Molly Malones Irish Pub also made the most of the first game, hosting a block party with more than 3000 people flagging their interest.
Both Flinders St and Palmer St were packed with fans de
spite concerns the blockbuster r game would be played behind d closed doors after a coronavirus scare just hours before.
The NRL announced yesterday that round two would go on n without crowds, but the future of f the 2020 season was still unclear.
Mr Dwyer said this uncertainty would cause a hit to the e expected financial growth from the new stadium but he believed the economy would bounce back k quickly.
About 6.5 million people on government allowances were also expected to get a one-off $750 payment as part of a coronavirus stimulus package.
Mr Dwyer said this payment t would help boost the economy, but people needed to spend the money locally.
“Things seem to be changing daily so it’s difficult to predict with certainty … hopefully the travel and tourism sectors recover quickly,” he said.
Nationally, Mr Dwyer said Townsville was better positioned to cope with the looming impact of COVID-19 thanks to a well-respected public and private health system that serviced the North.
“This is a time to innovate and leverage the city’s comparative advantages … how Townsville can contribute to solving the challenge and produce enduring benefits for itself and the nation,” he said.
Mr Dwyer said the international student market would also be disrupted but a strong education sector was set to keep it afloat.
He said it was important that people adhered to the rules and did not panic buy. There was no suggestion the shopping centres would close.
THINGS SEEM TO BE CHANGING DAILY SO IT’S DIFFICULT TO PREDICT WITH CERTAINTY … HOPEFULLY THE TRAVEL AND TOURISM SECTORS RECOVER QUICKLY
COLIN DWYER