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Sydney riots damage trade and image
A$10 million should be invested into Tourism New South Wales to lessen the impact of Sydney race riots seen on television around the world.
The call came from Tourism and Transport Forum Australia managing director Christopher Brown.
“We must show the world that the bigotry we have seen in recent weeks does not reflect our community values,” Brown said. “Australia is a warm, welcoming and friendly place.
“The Sydney riots will have a detrimental effect on our tourism industry, unless Australians get back to visiting the city’s beaches and unless we implement a marketing response,” he warned.
Businesses from Cronulla to Bondi beaches have reported a shattering loss of business since the drunken mayhem on December 11. Restaurants have lost thousands of bookings with people deserting the seaside suburbs.
Australian Tourism Export Council managing director Matthew Hingerty said he was concerned that tourism icons such as Bondi Beach had been drawn into the conflict. Two men carrying petrol bombs were arrested on a bus to Bondi yesterday.
“Tourism is such a big part of our economy it’s easy for people to take it for granted but we always have to be on our guard to protect it,” Hingerty said.
Federal tourism minister Fran Bailey said international visitors would be warmly welcomed and Australia’s reputation would not be affected.
“The Australian tourism industry is more than a few beaches in Sydney,” she said.
The racial violence in Sydney had not undermined international advertising campaigns to promote tourism, she added.
“I think people overseas will be very surprised by what they have seen on the news in their countries but I don’t believe that is going to deter them from coming to Australia,” said Bailey. “But having said that, we would certainly rather it hadn’t happened.”
Margy Osmond, chief executive of the state Chamber of Commerce, said many businesses were being affected at their busiest time of year.
“And it is not just the businesses feeling the pinch – a lot of staff, especially in the hospitality sector, have had their hours cut back as people stay away from some of our most popular tourist beaches in droves,” she said.
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