Federal Member for Capricornia Michelle Landry and Capricorn Enterprise CEO Mary Carroll have called on the Queensland Government to consider reopening the state’s borders to other states faster to assist in the revitalisation of the domestic tourism industry.
“It doesn’t take a psychic to see that our domestic tourism industry has taken a massive hit due to the coronavirus pandemic,” Ms Landry said.
“Now that we have seen no COVID-19 cases in Western Queensland and one new case in Central Queensland, I think the State Government needs to seriously look at reopening the borders to other states.
“The Premier has said Queensland’s borders are likely to reopen in September. This will be far too late for businesses already struggling.
“As Trade Minster Simon Birmingham has said, if the states and territories did not open their borders soon, they would be answerable to the tourism industry.”
Capricorn Enterprise CEO Mary Carroll said the Central Queensland tourism industry is desperate for borders to reopen.
“Normally, tourism operators and small businesses typically have the busy winter season to look forward to when our interstate visitors, particularly from NSW and Victoria escape the southern chill to our sub-tropical climate.
“We have seventeen commercial caravan parks in the Rockhampton region and Capricorn Coast alone, who rely upon the six month winter period to carry them through financially for the entire year.”
“It would be catastrophic if the interstate borders were not to re-open until September, which represents nearly nine months of minimal to no income for our tourism and hospitality sector which further impacts retail and our broader business sectors.”
“I am fielding daily distressed calls and emails from our operators, with this latest border war increasing business anxiety.”
“The sooner borders reopen, the faster we can stimulate the local economy and save local jobs,” Ms Carroll said.
