Qantas CEO Alan Joyce was among the many industry leaders who expressed their disappointment, dismay and irritation that Queensland Premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk excluded Greater Sydney in her announcement last Friday that her state’s borders would partially re-open.
The decision by the Premier to permit visitors from NSW from 3 November 2020, excluding 32 Local Government Areas in Greater Sydney, has not been welcomed by Joyce and the Tourism & Transport Forum Australia (TTF).
“… not opening to the 32 LGAs comprising Greater Sydney, without any new date for that re-opening, is yet another blow to a sector which in Queensland is bleeding $2.3 billion a month,” said TTF CEO, Margy Osmond.
“It will leave many Queenslanders and Sydneysiders frustrated and none-the-wiser as to when unimpeded COVID-Safe travel can occur between major business and tourism centres like Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Sydney.
“All Australians, including Queenslanders, want travel certainty and want to be able to plan to visit friends and family in the leadup to Christmas, in what ideally should be a busy summer travel period ahead.
“Fresh Newgate Research survey results for TTF this week reveal that 78 per cent, or almost 8 in 10 Australians surveyed, want to see state borders opened within three months.
“Our tourism, accommodation, aviation and events industries are hurting each and every single day that the bulk of this border remains closed.
“New Stafford Strategy research for TTF reveals that Queensland’s visitor economy in has been haemorrhaging over $2.3 billion each month from the sharp and longstanding drop in international and interstate tourism spend which has led to around 95,000 tourism job losses and $3.8 billion lost wages and salaries over the year across Queensland.
“Safety is critical but numbers of COVID cases have become manageable and many States have shown that they can effectively manage the risk rather than the emergency.
“The idea that regional NSW residents will be permitted to travel into Queensland through the Sydney Airport but must travel through Sydney without stopping will be difficult to manage and just causes more confusion for all.
“Our industry has long called for a consistent approach to the reopening of State and Territory borders that sensibly addresses health concerns and sets us firmly on the path to recovery and we hoped for a more sensible approach from the Queensland Government today rather than further delays.”
