Article: Tourism Australia’s Tough Sell as Border Reopens

[AFF Editor]

Tourism Australia’s Tough Sell as Border Reopens is an article written by AFF editorial staff:

Tourism Australia's Tough Sell as Border Reopens

Today, Australia's international border reopens to tourists for the first time since it was slammed shut on 20 March 2020. This is great news for people

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

You can discuss this topic or leave a comment below.

 

[mviy]

It's certainly an important step forward, but the xenophobic attitude of governments over the past few years will take a long time to live down.

Not only have they blocked tourists from coming in, they have denied Australians the right to leave Australia for much of this time even for important once-in-a-lifetime family events.

It'll take some time to convince tourists that we are all for taking personal responsibility for our health and won't close the borders at a moment's notice if a deadly new variant comes along.

 

[Human]

One thing that Australia has going for it: NZ is still closed. Yes, that means tourists from NZ won't be visiting Australia. But it also means that Australia will be able to attract some tourists who would have otherwise gone to NZ.

If you have a look at the NZ media, you'll see articles about how the NZ tourist industry is very, very worried about Australia opening before NZ.

 

[RozInAus]

Well, I've taken the plunge and booked for March flights. Flight availability is patchy and expensive. There's the concern that the Covid test a couple of days before flying might be positive menaing plans are overturned. This is a concern for all destinations still requiring pre-flight testing of course, though extra concerning when you're coming from the other side of the world (UK) and the repercussions are magnified. Until Australia drops pre-flight testing, until more flights and lower prices return (IF they return) then Australian tourism will remain hamstrung. I'm only coming back to Oz because most of my family is there. I was in Brisbane from March 2020 until August 2020, Qantas had cancelled my return flight in May that year and I had an anxious 6 months with visitor visa expiring and no help from immigration or airlines. I am concerned that Australia could suddenly change the rules again, at any time, trapping people in the wrong country once again. It's with some trepidation that I'll fly back in March.

 

[harvyk]

Let's not forget, we're an expensive destination to get to.

Unless it's a trip across the Tasman, you're potentially looking at thousands of dollars per person, just for Y, especially right now. So if you're about to spend that sort of coin to get somewhere, you're going to want to guarantee that you'll have a good time.

Random lock downs without notice, border closures without notice, and ever changing rules will kill off any hope we have for a tourism industry in this country for a good couple of years to come, even if we've seen the last of the premiers 11am media conferences.

 

[jastel]

Get rid of the masks, testing and check ins...treat it like the flu...and some will come back.

BUT

When they get here who will serve them, where will they stay, what tours will they take?
Many tourist businesses have folded completely and their staff have left town and are now doing other things or sitting on the dole. These businesses and trained staff cant just be "switched back on" because the govt opened a border.

If the govt closes the border again or reinstates masks and check ins...we are stuffed...they definitely wont come back for a second punch in the guts.

Then there is China...and Russia to consider.

I am not expecting any tourist boom yet.

 

[dajop]

Memories are short. Travel will come back eventually. Just not from China. Many people are completely naive to what is happening outside their patch, and if Australia is open to tourists, it’s open, they won’t pay particular attention to the nuances of masks etc. as long as they can get good travel insurance.

But it could also depend on the whole Russia/Ukraine situation that could create an new wave of uncertainly that undermines confidence in long haul travel.

 

[jrfsp]

I fully expect backpackers / working holiday visa to come pretty quickly.

However without the masses of Asian tourists will there be the same need for a lot of those tourism jobs anyhow?

Interesting article recently, the main reason people are put off Australia is the cost. Inflation is increasing, energy prices in Europe are soaring, disposable income is going backwards for many people. Lets have a cheap week long holiday in Spain.

'Fortress Australia' has started to open. So, where the bloody hell is everyone?

With Australia's international border closed for almost two years, there's one question on the lips of tourism operators, accommodation providers and hospitality venues: When will international visitors come back?

www.abc.net.au