? t a h W w o N
BY GEORGIE DESAILLY
Photo Credits: Townsville Enterprise Limited
It’s been just under two months since the country watched in awe as the first international flight in almost two years touched down in the Gold Coast, marking the reopening of Australia to the world. Whilst this has triggered excitement in the tourism industry and given locals the chance to start marketing and scaling their businesses once again in preparation for the return of travellers, many are eager to see what this highly anticipated reopening will mean for the region’s economic recovery.
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It’s no secret that the northern tourism industry has taken a hit over the last two years. According to the Queensland Tourism Industry Reference Panel, there were 11.3 million less visitors who travelled to and within Queensland during 2020, representing a loss of $12.3 billion in Queensland’s overnight visitor expenditure. “Even though only 10-20% of our pre-COVID market was made up of international tourists, we have many businesses across the region who, over decades, have built their business and experience on international markets – the likes of wildlife parks, backpacker accommodation, Magnetic Island and reef operators,” says CEO of Townsville Enterprise, Claudia Brumme-Smith, who also notes the critical role the reopening will play in bridging the gap in the regional workforce. “The temporary international workers are an important part of the local labour force in North Queensland, particularly in the tourism, hospitality, and agricultural sectors. The border opening is a step in the right direction to starting to address some of these challenges.”
