Tourism Industry celebrates opening of NSW and Victoria border

Tourism and Transport Forum Australia (TTF) has welcomed the opening of the NSW and Victoria border from 23rd November 2020 as a huge step forward to a more “normal” world - rebooting both leisure and business travel and tourism.

TTF Chief Executive Margy Osmond today advised “the reuniting of these two major southern states following the devastating impacts of COVID-19 is almost like a mini ‘Australian Federation 2.0’ but in 2020 rather than 1901.

“TTF gives a huge COVIDSafe elbow handshake to both NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and the NSW and Victorian Governments for removing this border well before Christmas.

“It will reboot both leisure and business travel, allow residents of both states to plan visits to family and friends interstate in the leadup to Christmas and help get the ailing visitor economy humming once again.

Osmond adds “today’s announcement is a real vote of confidence in the ability of states to successfully track, trace and sensibly and effectively manage the virus.

“Our tourism, transport, aviation and accommodation sectors are now collectively holding our breath as national momentum builds for remaining state and city borders to fall away as COVID-19 numbers remain low and COVIDSafe activity continues across the country.

“We must keep managing the risk rather than the emergency of this virus and ensure the safety of the community while also preventing any further tourism jobs and business closures and allow a COVDSafe rebooting of the economy.”

Research by Stafford Strategy for TTF revealed the industry was still losing almost $8 billion per month in spend from almost no international and limited domestic visitation which has resulted in an estimated 470,000 jobs being lost.