Sydney riots damage trade and image

TTF Australia (Tourism and Transport Forum) managing director Christopher Brown said today the tourism industry supported the NSW Government’s response to the Sydney race riots.

But he said the State Government should also invest $10 million into its marketing arm, Tourism NSW, to lessen the impact of the riots seen on television around the world.

“We must show the world that the bigotry we have seen in recent weeks does not reflect our community values,” Mr 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.”

Businesses from Cronulla to Bondi have reported a shattering loss of business since the drunken mayhem of Sunday 11th Dec. Restaurants have lost thousands of bookings with people deserting the seaside suburbs, not helped by the Premiers knee-jerk reaction when he warned people that the “beaches weren’t safe”.

The managing director of the Australian Tourism Export Council, 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,” Mr Hingerty said.

The federal Tourism Minister, Fran Bailey, said international visitors arriving this summer 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 said.

“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,” she said. “But having said that, we would certainly rather it hadn’t happened.”

Margy Osmond, the 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.

The news has spread overseas with Canada, Indonesia and England warning people to stay clear of the trobled hot spots.

“Riots and acts of violence by local youth began on Sunday, December 11, 2005, in the Sydney suburb of Cronulla,” a note from the Canadian Foreign Office said.

“You should be careful if you have to travel through the affected areas.

“Canadians should monitor local news and should be especially vigilant and avoid situations where violence and demonstrations may occur.”

Nice work from a drunken mob of louts fuelled by the media exposure and misguided racial views. While it appears that some sanity is returning, the sight of mounted police on the sand of some of Australia’s iconic coastline will do nothing to promote visitors to return.