Peak Industry body, the Accommodation Association today welcomed news that the Queensland Government is set to reopen the border to Greater Sydney residents from December 1 with a decision on Victoria to come on Wednesday.

The decision means much needed bookings including for hard hit metropolitan hotels and motels as we come into the peak holiday period as well as a welcome widening of holiday choices for Sydneysiders and Queenslanders  – and hopefully Victorians soon!

At a glance:

• The Accommodation Association represents close to 3,500 hotels, over 150,000 rooms and nearly 100,000 employees across Australia
• Accommodation contributes $17 billion to the Australian economy
• Interstate travel[1] from NSW to QLD is worth $4.38Bn each year and from QLD to NSW $3.3Bn
• Interstate travel from VIC to QLD is worth $3.2Bn and from QLD to VIC $1.7Bn

Dean Long, CEO Accommodation Association said “This announcement couldn’t have come at a better time, especially for those hotels and motels in South-East Queensland and metropolitan Sydney which have been particularly hard-hit by the border closures given their reliance on interstate and international travel.”

“It’s also an important boost for hotels and motels in North Queensland including Cairns with 80% of their bookings from New South Wales, Victoria and internationally, so opening and keeping these borders is essential to having people employed again and the local economies kicking over,” said Mr Long.

“With the holiday season so close, we expect to see a very welcome surge in accommodation bookings up and down the east coast of Australia as we all celebrate the return to a more normal framework. For the 100,000 people who work within our industry and the many other businesses who rely on our sector, there will also be a sigh of relief after what has been an extremely tough year financially and psychologically.”

“We are keeping our fingers crossed that a similar announcement about Queensland being opened to Victoria is imminent," said Mr Long.

[1] Tourism Research Australia statistics

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