Visit Sunshine Coast Chair David Ryan has commended the Queensland Government for its decision to open the state's border to all parts of Australia except Victoria.
Queensland's Visit Sunshine Coast tourism body has welcomed an "encouraging and positive decision" by the state government to open the borders to other parts of Australia with the exception of Victoria.
On Tuesday afternoon, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced Queensland’s border will reopen as planned on July 10, but not to people coming from Victoria amid a surge in coronavirus cases in that state.
As part of the plan, people coming in from all other states and territories will be required to fill in a declaration form before being permitted to enter Queensland.
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Visit Sunshine Coast Chair David Ryan said the move would offer "a tremendous boost" to the Sunshine Coast tourism sector.
“We fully understand the decision regarding Victoria and appreciate how hard a decision it must have been for the Premier and her Government, but with the necessary precautions in place, we are confident that the travel situation can be managed effectively.
Visit Sunshine Coast Chair David Ryan. Source: Visit Sunshine Coast
"Eventually we would like to see the Victorian market opened up, but only when it is safe to do so.
“The decision to open the border with NSW will be really welcomed by the local industry because the situation was looking rather grim for many operators after the school holidays.
"This is when we normally receive considerable long-stay business – sometimes for up to a month or more – from interstate and New Zealand visitors, and while that will be difficult to reactivate in the short-term, the border announcement send the right signals for airlines to re-introduce direct flights to the Sunshine Coast, and for travellers to start making plans."
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. Source Annastacia Palaszczuk Facebook
Mr Ryan said he expected recovery to be slow, given it had been "one of the worst periods for Sunshine Coast tourism in recent decades".
“To accelerate the process we have put together a new community initiative that we will announce tomorrow that will highlight why the Sunshine Coast should be the first choice for domestic travellers," he said.
“We also have the new Alliance Cairns-Sunshine Coast air route that launches in mid-July, and opens up a new market for the Sunshine Coast.
“We would also congratulate the Premier on her Government’s decision to increase capacity for weddings, concerts, restaurant and other venues. It reflects how hard the Queensland community has worked to reduce the threat of COVID.”
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