Queensland border uncertainty could come at the cost of summer boom - Accor
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Queensland border uncertainty could come at the cost of summer boom - Accor
With new estimates from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland and the Queensland Government showing border closures are costing Queensland $17 million a day, Accor Pacific Chief Operating Officer Simon McGrath has called for urgent action to save the state's tourism sector.
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AccorAccor Pacific Chief Operating Officer Simon McGrath.
Hotel operator Accor Pacific believes Queensland could go from "leadership to last" in the race for tourism as a result of its border restrictions.
While Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced an expansion of state's border zone from Thursday, October 1 to include the Byron, Ballina, Lismore, Richmond Valley and Glen Innes council areas, Accor Pacific Chief Operating Officer Simon McGrath said more certainty was required to give the state's tourism sector the best chance for a steady recovery.
"Now is when people are booking visits for the next 3 to 6 months and if they don’t have certainty that Queensland will be open, then Queensland will miss the surge in travel and fall behind other states," he said.
At a glance:
- Accor Pacific Chief Operating Officer Simon McGrath has called for greater certainty regarding the reopening of Queensland's state border.
- The hotel operator predicts that more than 70 per cent of the state's hotel room and apartments could sit unoccupied through the coming months if the border uncertainty continues.
- On Tuesday, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced an expansion of state's border zone from Thursday, October 1 to include the Byron, Ballina, Lismore, Richmond Valley and Glen Innes council areas
"Many Australians love to visit Queensland and tourism annually contributes $25 billion to the Queensland economy and employs 217,000 Queenslanders (directly or indirectly).
"If Queensland misses this crucial booking window and job keeper falls away, then some hotels will close for the first six months of 2021."
According to Austrade, Queensland has around 30,000 hotel rooms and apartments across the state.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. Source Annastacia Palaszczuk Facebook
Accor predicts that more than 70 per cent could sit unoccupied through the coming months if the border uncertainty continues, which could lead to business closures for the first six months of 2021.
Mr McGrath said was not just bad news for the hotel business, but could also lead to local business owners being affected as well.
“The livelihoods of small business owners, from café owners, to restaurants to taxi drivers are at stake," he said.
"We are urging the State Government to use common sense, provide clarity and safely open up borders, which will set Queensland up for a stronger 2021 and save jobs.
"We all want to see local businesses thriving and workers return to work.
"A hard border reopening date will give the rest of Australia the certainty they need to make plans for the future, and people need to be assured that when borders do eventually open, they will stay open."
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