AusLeisure

The Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) has today highlighted the impact that the current three-day lockdown in South East Queensland is having on the state’s tourism industry.

In a communication to stakeholders, QTIC advises “just when we thought the situation could not get more serious than it already was, the lockdown for most of South East Queensland on Saturday has effectively closed down the tourism and hospitality industry in Queensland.

“Regardless of where your business is in Queensland, almost all interstate markets are still shut out and now, with Brisbane in lockdown, even intrastate travel has ground to a near-standstill.

“The industry ended the last financial year severely emaciated financially and with no reserves but with a glimmer of hope and optimism that ‘the worst’ might be behind us. Such expectations have now been comprehensively dashed. With prolonged lockdowns in other states and border closures keeping visitors from our key markets out of Queensland, and the Brisbane lockdown on Saturday, almost every operator in the state is by now facing the most difficult scenario.

“The disturbing evidence emerged in our recent quarterly survey which confirmed a sober outlook event before the latest problems. We thank all of you who took the trouble to respond to the survey, the information is crucial for us to make the case to governments that support is needed.

“QTIC has been making representation to the Queensland Government since the previous lockdown for stimulus funding for the tourism and hospitality industry (and) we formally wrote to the Queensland Treasurer before the lockdown on Friday, conveying our serious concerns that our industry was in the most difficult situation since the very beginning of the crisis.

“For many tourism and hospitality businesses, with all reserves exhausted, emergency cash support is now critical. Costs keep mounting up even for largely ‘hibernated’ businesses. The situation is equally dire for staff who must be supported, not least to keep a skilled workforce in place that can eventually deliver a recovery for the state.

“This is likely to require a substantial investment from state and federal governments but the cost of not supporting our industry would demonstrably be far greater from large scale business failures and job losses. Queensland cannot afford to have its tourism industry decimated, especially not now and not at the start of our decade-long journey towards the Olympics.

“As we have done from the very beginning of the COVID drama, QTIC will make every possible effort to collaborate with both state and federal governments to ensure effective and timely support will be forthcoming. At the very least there are clear signs that the state government will work with the Federal Government to make available some support package that was put in place in NSW recently.”

Image: Warner Bros. Movie World is among the many South East Queensland tourism businesses impacted by the current lockdown.

Related Articles

1st August 2021 - NRL sidesteps Greater Brisbane lockdown with five games in two days at Suncorp Stadium

31st July 2021 - AFL and NRL fixtures cancelled as snap lockdown introduced in South East Queensland

30th July 2021 - Australia’s lockdowns to end once 80% of the population is vaccinated against COVID-19

26th July 2021 - Queenslanders encouraged to support State Tourism sector

21st July 2021 - Lockdowns see Super Netball return to Queensland Hub

12th July 2021 - Wildlife protected areas to expand in Queensland

11th July 2021 - Major events to deliver $380 million boost to Queensland economy

7th July 2021 - Public liability insurance crisis further impacting Queensland country shows

30th April 2021 - Major Queensland tourism industry bodies collaborate for industry sustainability

20th March 2021 - Industry Panel formed to chart Queensland tourism industry recovery

1st February 2021 - Queensland tourism industry anticipates Easter boost from Sydney visitors 

27th November 2020 - Village Roadshow leads Queensland tourism operators in advertising summer positions

14th May 2021 - Village Roadshow announces new investment in Gold Coast theme parks

22nd January 2021 - QTIC announces new ‘Top Tourism Town’ awards program

14th January 2021 - QTIC to survey operators on insurance crisis

9th October 2020 - QTIC shares tourism industry’s election priorities for next Queensland Government

7th July 2020 - QTIC’s COVIDSafe events framework supports getting the ‘show to go on’

4th October 2018 - QTIC recognises industry innovation on World Tourism Day

---

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.

Click here to view our subscription options.