TOURISM REPORT
Tourism businesses fighting for more support from pollies
“Are we as a country looking for eradication or suppression? If it is suppression then we need to have strategic plans and set guidelines across states to allow businesses to operate. “There is a need to implement more strategy on stimulating revenue for the industry.” TAA, in conjunction with AHA, have submitted a proposal to government for the exemption of FBT for three years for SMEs – this would stimulate both accommodation and food and beverage sales across the industry. He explained: “We are also working closely with Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and with Martin representing us on the Tourism Restart Taskforce which has been reporting directly into the NCCC – now the NCC.
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Hard border may not eliminate virus but will eliminate Queensland jobs, says sector
First, Michael gave the committee a quick overview of what the pandemic has done to the sector over the last six months and where it stands today – utterly decimated.
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He said: “We now find the majority of hotels in CBDs right around the country operating 50 to 60 percent down on same time last year with Sydney and Melbourne hardest hit, with room revenues down in excess of 75 percent.
say it will take up to four years for our industry to return to anything like pre-COVID-19 occupancies and profitability.
Without a vaccine the industry needs help.
“The federal government’s support, in particular, JobKeeper has been our saving grace. It has effectively been able to keep our businesses afloat and our staff engaged while revenues have disappeared.” He thanked the government for the decision to extend Job Keeper. But continued: “With state border closures extended… no sign of international borders re-opening… and even our New Zealand bubble no longer an option… our industry will need ongoing support if we are to survive. “2020 is a write off and the first half of 2021 is not looking much brighter. In fact, forecasters
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Tourism Accommodation Australia (TAA) CEO Michael Johnson and Chairman Martin Ferguson addressed the Federal Senate Committee, August 20, 2020. Due to the dire state of the industry in the shadow of COVID-19 and with no end in sight to travel restrictions, they demanded more clarity from the government on strategic plans and guidelines for businesses to decide now whether they can carry on for the long haul.
He said: “We need federal and state governments to be more in sync when it comes to border closures and openings… the industry needs to promote itself domestically and to the world and we cannot do that until the uncertainty ends. “We also need to understand whether we have the appetite or capabilities to operate in a COVID-19 world.
TOURISM
Now that Queensland’s premier has confirmed borders will remain closed until there are no cases of community transmission in New South Wales and Victoria, it may be Christmas before they open. Industry leaders and operators from across the sector have spoken out. The closures, although necessary for public health, are a continuing blow to Queensland’s faltering accom industry and are sure to cause further job losses. Talking about the border closure earlier in August Tourism Accommodation Australia CEO Michael Johnson said while health obviously had to come first, the closure was another blow to the struggling hospitality and accommodation sector in both states, especially in the regions. Accommodation Association CEO Dean Long said of the closures: “The accommodation sector agrees that health considerations must be at the forefront of decision making however this decision comes with absolutely no warning and will now mean an acceleration of job losses in Queensland’s tourism sector.” “The closing of Queensland’s border to the whole of New ResortNews | September 2020
