TJ Ryan Foundation Research Associate, John Quiggin, writes in The Conversation (24.2.20) that, with Australia’s tourism sector hit hard by the impacts of bushfires and coronavirus, there are good reasons to think it may take a lot longer than in the past for visitor numbers to bounce back.
‘Australia’s catastrophic bushfire season has done immense damage to Australia’s tourist industry. Then, just as heavy rain began to bring the situation under control, came the coronavirus outbreak in China – now the top source of international visitors to Australia. Tourism from China, already greatly reduced, ended with the ban on non-citizens travelling from China.
‘The general assumption has been that, once the immediate crises are over, Australia’s tourist numbers will bounce back.
‘Optimists point to examples such as Japan following the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami that killed more than 15,000 people, resulted in the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster and forced more than 500,000 people to evacuate.
‘Tourism to Japan took a hit. International visits in 2011 fell 28%, to 6.2 million from 8.6 million in 2010. By the end of 2012, however, numbers were back to more than 8.3 million. Tourism to the devastated Fukushima region took a little longer to bounce back, but by fiscal 2015 had recovered to nearly 90% of numbers in fiscal 2010.
‘… There are, however, good reasons to think this time is different.’
- This time is different: Australia’s tourist numbers may take years to recover »
- Bushfire recovery package to tackle Australian tourism’s ‘biggest challenge in living memory’ »
- Koalas are the face of Australian tourism. What now after the fires? »
- Tourism loses $4.5b to bushfires as overseas visitors cancel »
- Fear spreads easily. That’s what gives the Wuhan coronavirus economic impact »
- Coronavirus to take a billion-dollar bite out of Queensland’s bottom line »
- The first economic modelling of coronavirus scenarios is grim for Australia, the world »
- Economic growth near an end as Treasury talks of prolonged coronavirus downturn »
- ‘It’s eerie’: tropical north Queensland tourism goes into coronavirus hibernation »
- Coronavirus to cripple Cairns for years, tourism experts say »
- Pain far from over for Queensland’s crippled tourism industry as experts warn sector won’t recover until 2021 »
- Bushfires, COVID-19 take heavy toll on Australian tourism, and things are likely to get worse »
- City on the brink: Cairns ‘facing depression’ without help, say experts »
- Queensland’s ‘aggressive’ plan to lure Sydney, Melbourne tourists »
- Morrison government to subsidise holidaymakers in $1.2 billion tourism and aviation package »
- For many tourism sector workers, Australia’s economic recovery has not even begun »
- Tourism operators are reeling from lockdowns, but the barriers to a full post-COVID recovery go far deeper »
- Tourism hits a new low as government considers help »
- Ghost Coast: One in five tourism jobs lost as another holiday disaster looms »
- School holiday disaster caps a billion-dollar drop in Coast tourism spending »
- The Australian border has reopened, but when can we go back to normal? »
- Outback Tourism builds new season, but will the people come? »
- How Outback tourism has found a new life in Queensland »
- Tourism levy rejected as government hits the throttle on ‘Brand Queensland’ »
- Tourists flood back but pandemic hangover continues for Qld
- Tourism’s dark days look to be over but it’s a case of wait and see for Easter
The end of global travel as we know it: an opportunity for sustainable tourism
Freya Higgins-Desbiolles writes in The Conversation (18.3.20) about the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on international travel, and how this might prompt moves for more sustainable travel patterns in Australia’s tourism industry.
‘Saturday, 14 March 2020, is “The Day the World Stopped Travelling”, in the words of Rifat Ali, head of travel analytics company Skift. That’s a little dramatic, perhaps, but every day since has brought us closer to it being reality.
‘The COVID-19 crisis has the global travel industry – “the most consequential industry in the world”, says Ali – in uncharted territory. Nations are shutting their borders. Airlines face bankruptcy. Ports are refusing entry to cruise ships, threatening the very basis of the cruise business model.
‘Associated hospitality, arts and cultural industries are threatened. Major events are being cancelled. Tourist seasons in many tourist destinations are collapsing. Vulnerable workers on casual, seasonal or gig contracts are suffering. It seems an epic disaster – but is it?’
- The end of global travel as we know it: an opportunity for sustainable tourism »
- We depend so much more on Chinese travellers now. That makes the impact of this coronavirus novel »
- The sun is setting on unsustainable long-haul, short-stay tourism – regional travel bubbles are the future »
- Tourism authorities call for easing of coronavirus travel restrictions »
- Coronavirus: where to now for Australian and international tourism? »
- Travel bans leave tourism bleeding $1b per month as education, exports suffer »
- Warning to states on coronavirus border closures as tourism industry takes $55 billion hit »
- Crisis, what crisis? Coast unveils tourism battle plan to ‘burst from gates’ »
- Palaszczuk mapping path to ease coronavirus restrictions and restart ailing Queensland tourism industry »
- Queenslanders urged to holiday at home to help ailing tourism industry »
- If you see a head, kick it – Coast mayor’s take-no-prisoners recovery plan »
- Queensland businesses urged: Don’t lay off your staff »
- Tourism desperately wants a return to the ‘old normal’ but that would be a disaster »
- Tourism thrown a lifeline – industry to receive additional support ‘within days’ »
- Government to slash domestic airfares to get more Aussies to holiday at home »
- Marginal advantage: a whiff of pork in the government’s great tourist ticket lottery »
- More travel voucher schemes could be rolled out to help Qld tourism industry »
- Premier unveils $7.5 million in incentives to attract interstate tourism staff »
- Labour shortage may mean tourism sector goes from bad to worse »
- As international borders reopen, some say tourism should be more sustainable post-COVID »
- Why COVID-19 means the era of ever cheaper air travel could be over »
- Welcome back: Tourism slowly spreads its wings as the world returns to Australia »
- Bucking the trend: Is there a future for ultra long-haul flights in a net zero carbon world? »
- Aquarium, music museum, esports arena? Brisbane’s missing attractions »
- How Covid set tourism back five years and wiped out $153 billion in spending »