WA Tourism Plea for JobKeeper Substitute

New financial support to replace JobKeeper is needed to maintain tourism businesses and jobs as the latest official visitor statistics show that WA domestic tourism declined by $ 2.6 billion, or 40 percent, from March to November 2020.

Tourism Research Australia’s latest national visitor survey shows that from the start of interstate and domestic travel restrictions in March 2020 through November, domestic visitor spending in WA decreased by $ 860 million and interstate visitor spending decreased by $ 1,780 million.

These numbers exclude the estimated $ 1.7 billion loss from international tourism due to border closings.

Evan Hall, CEO of Tourism Council WA, said around a third of tourism companies are still with JobKeeper and will need support beyond the end of March to keep operating.

“The industry faces major business closings and job losses when JobKeeper payments, rental freezes and loan deferrals end in March,” he said.

“We urge the federal and state governments to replace JobKeeper with new financial aid to keep tourism businesses and jobs going until domestic tourism returns as travel restrictions ease and vaccines come in.

“It is imperative that these companies keep working so that Western Australia can retain the tourism product it needs to attract visitors when travel restrictions ease.”

Mr Hall said while official figures showed local tourism in WA grew during the school vacation months of July, September and October, overall domestic tourism declined 40 percent.

“The latest official figures show that WA domestic tourism lost $ 224 million in November alone, and a total of $ 2.6 billion since domestic travel restrictions began in March,” he said.

“Since these November results, there have been Christmas border closings, closings and regional travel restrictions.

“We are facing a year of international and interstate travel restrictions that have placed a heavy burden on many tourism companies.”

/ Public release. This material is from the original organization and may be of a temporal nature and may be edited for clarity, style and length. Full view Here.