The tourism industry is urging Australians to holiday at home to fight the downturn and according to AAP and Tourism and Transport Forum, Australia’s tourist industry is facing a bleak year as the economic downturn bites, an industry body says.
The Tourism and Transport Forum says a survey of its members has revealed a lack of confidence in bookings for the last quarter of the year, and a bleak outlook for 2009.
Executive director Olivia Wirth says it is difficult at this stage to forecast how badly the industry will be affected, but it is not looking good.
“We’re hoping that more Australians will choose to travel at home rather than travel overseas, so we may see a bit of a transfer in where people are actually holidaying,” she said.
“People may continue to holiday, they may just choose their destination, so at this stage it’s just too early to call exactly what the impact will be.”
“But we do know there will be a slowdown in the market.”
TTF did not return the Mole’s calls last week.
A Report by The Mole
