Tourism Council WA welcomes today’s border opening and extends a warm welcome to interstate and international visitors.
While the border lifting was a positive step forward for tourism, the impact of more than two years of border restrictions will continue to be felt by the decimated tourism sector, Tourism Council WA CEO Evan Hall said.
“Tourism operators are ready for visitors to return today, but the financial cost and loss of staff will not be quickly or easily overcome,” he said.
Since the onset of border restrictions in January 2020, $4 billion has been wiped from the $12 billion WA tourism industry, with 20,000 tourism jobs lost and countless lives disrupted.
Mr Hall said the border delays and uncertainty had caused many events and holiday trips to be cancelled indefinitely. As a result, the border opening had not brought a flood of bookings to the decimated industry.
“Event venues and attractions are still being impacted by level 2 restrictions and the businesses that are suffering due to these restrictions will require support,” Mr Hall said.
“An opinion poll commission by Tourism Council WA shows Western Australians want to see the State Government supply support packages for the tourism industry.”
The poll found 75 per cent of respondents agreed that businesses disrupted by COVID-19 restrictions should receive financial support from the State Government.
Mr Hall said the border opening did not reduce the need for investment in aviation, tourism, and events.
In the poll, 69% of Western Australians called for the State Government to invest in these areas to recover jobs, business, and economic diversity once the borders opened.
“It is going to take time and support for the industry to recover the jobs lost, reputations damaged, and economic diversity,” Mr Hall said.
“Tourism Council WA is calling on a sizable support package where all businesses that have suffered financial loss are clearly eligible for funding.”
