Australia sees grim times ahead
SYDNEY – Australia is the latest country to call for a new focus on domestic tourism after new figures revealed the country expects to see its biggest drop in overseas visitor numbers in 20 years in 2009-10.
An independent forecasting committee for Tourism Australia says the industry will take $US1.8 billion less in the next two years than was predicted just four months ago.
The Tourism Forecasting Committee says inbound travel will fall by more than four percent next year because of the global financial crisis.
The biggest falls are expected to be in visitors from Japan.
The ABC reports the drop would be the worst since visitor numbers fell by 7.5 percent in 1989, due to a strike by airline pilots.
The report also says outbound travel will fall by 2.6 percent – its first downturn since an international outbreak of SARS hit the industry six years ago.
Chairman of the Tourism Forecasting Committee, Bernard Salt, said, “There is no doubt that tourism operators who are heavily reliant on international tourism are in for a tough time in 2009, particularly in the first-half of the year.
“However, if the Australian dollar stays low, growth in aviation capacity servicing Australia remains solid and consumer confidence returns, Australia’s inbound tourism segment is well placed to rebound strongly in 2010.â€
Lobby group the Transport and Tourism Forum says Australia’s regional tourism hubs will be hardest hit.
Executive director Olivia Wirth says airlines and hospitality businesses will also be badly affected.
A recent survey of the industry by the forum found the number of bookings for the first quarter of 2009 were the worst on record.
The Queensland government is urging people to holiday locally to help offset a downturn in international visitors across Australia.
Premier Anna Bligh said a strong domestic tourism industry would help retain jobs.
Bligh said the “holiday at home” campaigns would continue into the new year and in January a new “world-first” global marketing campaign would be launched to keep Queensland on the minds of potential international travellers.
Queensland Tourism Industry Council chief executive officer Daniel Gschwind said tourism was doing well during the holidays but come February he expected operators, particularly those in North Queensland, would suffer.
“It will be tough to retain jobs in the industry,” Gschwind told AAP.
“We expect thousands of small businesses will be hurting as it’s very often small businesses that will have to make the cuts.
The outlook for domestic tourism had one piece of good news this week – Qantas dropped its fuel charge on domestic services following a similar move by Virgin Blue last week
Ian Jarrett
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Digital Travel Reporter of the Mirror totally seduced by HotelPlanner AI Travel Agent
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Strike action set to cause travel chaos at Brussels airports