Domestic travel could provide a ‘buffer’ for tourism operators

Domestic travel can provide a “buffer” to businesses struggling with the economic consequences of coronavirus, according to South Australian Tourism’s Brent Hill. Last week the federal government announced the tourism sector will receive $1 billion in assistance to help it cope with a lack of international visitors due to COVID-19, otherwise known as coronavirus. International tourism has slumped as many countries begin to ban entrants into the country to slow the spread of the disease. At least 156,44 people have contracted the coronavirus globally, with 5,832 succumbing to the disease. Mr Hill told Sky News many operators are finding it difficult to cope with the steep decline in visitors from overseas. “It’s very difficult…there’s a number of businesses that we have seen in South Australia that is highly exposed to international travel and those guys are suffering the most with coronavirus,” he said. However, he said he is optimistic travellers will postpone international trips and look domestically instead. "We think in our case, a lot of people have been saying, well I’ve been hearing things about Adelaide and South Australia, maybe now is the time to come and check it out. "I think in that sense domestic travel, for now, can help provide a buffer and hopefully we don’t have any further restrictions on travel domestically.”

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