TOURISM WOES
At a time when COVID-19, or more significantly, Government response to COVID-19 has ground the Australian tourism industry to a halt, mum and dad businesses who make up the vast majority of the airport and cruise transfer industry, the small personal tour buses, quite often one man shows, though some are employers of 10 people or more, have been totally forgotten by the Government, both State and Federal, who are paid to represent them.
The Small Australian tourism operators, the Airport and Cruise Transfer (shuttle) operators, were the first industry to be sacrificed for the safety of Australian’s, and they will be the last to return.
An industry survey we released recently has returned with some startling, though not unexpected news regarding the future of this industry. Of those surveyed, 67% have said they will last no longer than 6 months, without ongoing Government assistance, and Lease assistance, while they wait for the return of business.
Further to that, the results showed that over 41% of surveyed operators have contacted their local member of parliament, and had no response whatsoever.
We are not just talking about late comers to the industry here either, over 60% of the businesses, some with several employees, have been in this industry for 10- 20+ years.
This is an industry that is not mentioned by our leaders in any press conferences. Yes, they are entitled to JobKeeper and other assistance, but while the café’s, restaurants, pubs and clubs all return to normal with the flick of a switch, the tourism industry, especially for the smaller operators relying on international guests and flights and cruises, the flow on effect of this pandemic will be far reaching, and for many, impossible to sustain.
We have results from our client survey that show 47% of regular passengers do not intend to travel until there is a vaccine for this virus and even then, over 56% are not planning to travel until International Borders are opened without restriction, how does an industry survive for such an unknown period of time.
We know that the word regarding international travel is that it will be at the earliest, 2021 before it begins, perhaps later.
Where companies like Qantas can plead their case directly to the Prime Minister and Treasurer, our small mum and dad operators are not even worthy of a return call or email from their local members.
The message from those who participated in the survey is that they need the following support
• JobKeeper to be maintained until the industry can stand alone, until both domestic and international borders are opened.
• Registration and Greenslips for the buses of accredited operators to be excused by the State Governments for a period of 12 months, as it will take this long (or longer) for those vehicles to be on the road
• The regulatory costs of operating an accredited bus company to be absorbed by the State Governments, as they have for builders’ licenses, liquor licenses etc. Builders were not stopped from operating, but have an industry package to assist them. This industry has no such package or relief/assistance.
• Federal Legislation to ensure that any company who defaults on a lease or loan does not have that default lodged with credit providers in any way, if it is as a result of the COVID-19 situation, and similarly, the Bankruptcy of these businesses need to be prohibited for a period of 5 years, to ensure there is an opportunity for the operators to trade or work their way out of this situation that was not their doing.
• Accreditation Freeze for new bus and rideshare operators, to prevent overcrowding of what will be a diminished industry for some time, which will allow operators to get back on their feet.
Rob Sinclair, GM of Here To There Coaches and Founder and General Manager of Muva.
When we put a post on the Hills to Hawkesbury Facebook asking if the old Windsor Bridge should be preserved there was a lot of support but also some interesting suggesting and different views.
The following are just a selection.
JULIE: I used to walk on the bridge in the 1940s with my grandmother, I loved to look down the drain holes to the water.
FRANCES: Yes, we must definitely preserve this historic bridge as well as Thompson Square! Our heritage buildings, bridges etc need to be protected not destroyed!
DEBORAH: Definitely… Why would anyone destroy such an integral part of Windsor’s heritage and story? The bridge would be perfect as a pedestrian bridge.. Look how much that was spent on the new footbridge at Penrith… We have one here in Windsor already…. Perfect!!
BRETT: It’s past its use by date, was built for horse and cart. It’s too low to the water, if they could rise the old bridge then save it. But now we have a new bridge and higher safer, then demolish it, who’s going to pay the maintenance of it? Damn sure we don’t want our rates raised again for a bridge that won’t be used ROBERT: Definitely I get sick of seeing all our heritage pulled down
CAROL: Yes, and make Macquarie Park a coach transit parking spot with decent toilets etc. At present, there is nowhere for visiting coaches to pull up easily and if there was a proper transit post like the one in Gloucester the Hawkesbury could attract more tourists from interstate. (Carol from Hawkesbury Valley Heritage Tours).
SHANE: No. The new bridge has a walkway on it and doesn’t require people to cross a busy toad to access it. I love how the new bridge provides great views of the historic buildings as you drive across from Wilberforce side. These were hidden behind the huge concrete retaining wall before. A unified square is much better. Part of the Bridge should be kept for a viewing platform on Windsor side and that’s it.
KIM: Yes. Save the bridge. Don’t destruct something that is useful.
NEL: It would be nice to keep if still structurally sound
JAN: Yes. We must preserve our history. That is a part of the landscape.
