The Australian Open tennis tournament may in jeopardy as restrictions are reintroduced in Victoria, following the discovery of three new Covid cases. Photo Credit: Unsplash/Mitchell Luo
Another round of lockdowns, possible suspension of a major sporting
event, and more cancelled business events continue to besiege the
business events circle in Melbourne.
The discovery of three new Covid-19 cases has resulted in renewed
restrictions for Victoria, and cast doubt over the Australian Open
tennis tournament in Melbourne, which is due to start on 8 February.
Tighter safety measures include a restriction on gatherings (from 30
people down to 15) and the return of mandatory mask-wearing, while a 75%
'return to work' subsidy originally scheduled for 8 February will be
paused. Instead, the current cap of 50% will remain in place.
Already, up to 600 Australian Open tennis players and staff have been
told to isolate until Covid test results are back. However, Victorian
premier, Daniel Andrews indicated on Thursday (4 February) that the
sporting event will proceed — despite the fact that one of the thee
cases is connected to the tournament's hotel quarantine site.
Greater government support needed
Meanwhile, the Business Events Council of Australia (BECA) has called
on state and federal leaders to better manage the situation, with
events already being cancelled for the first half of 2021.
In a recent statement, BECA chair, Vanessa Findlay, said the business
events industry is facing "critical challenge" due to uncertainty in
relation to border management, and conflicting guidelines for event
approvals across state lines.
BECA has urged government heads to "create confidence in business
once again" by committing "to an evidence-based approach to managing
internal borders," so as to avoid "the haphazard and unnecessary
shutdown of borders".
Findlay also expressed concern over the impending conclusion of
JobKeeper, the federal government's income subsidy, which is due to on
28 March.
BECA recently joined several Australian travel industry leaders to
launch 'Save The Travel Industry' — a national campaign that aims to
pressure the Australian government to extend JobKeeper until 2022, when
international borders are expected to reopen.
Whether for the business events or tourism trade, numbers tell a sobering story.
A report by the Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) indicates
80% of the country’s inbound tour operators will be gone by September
“without some kind of government support”.
Some 75% of tourism businesses have been able to supplement some of
their revenue with domestic visitors, but this spend represents less
than 20% of income lost from overseas visitors.
“Australian tourism businesses have hung on with the support of
JobKeeper but face annihilation once the programme ends next month if
the government fails to provide further support,” ATEC managing
director, Peter Shelley, said.