Qld tourism businesses say fuel prices behind drop in visitor numbers
Carly Clark is passionate about hosting tourists on her animal rescue property but despite being less than a 5-hour drive from Brisbane, visitors to her farm have declined.
Tourism businesses in Queensland are reporting a decline in visitor numbers, attributing the drop to higher fuel prices. Carly Clark, a Bundaberg farmer, has seen a 30% decrease in tourist numbers at her animal rescue property, with bookings down in both accommodation and day trips. The increased costs of insurance and electricity are also impacting small businesses, forcing them to pass the hikes onto customers.
Megan Rippon, a tourist from New South Wales, noted that the high fuel costs play a role in her decision-making when planning holidays. Despite the turtle season at Mon Repos, a popular nesting site for endangered loggerhead turtles, there are still thousands of tickets available, indicating that some visitors are still willing to travel.
However, Bundaberg Tourism executive Duncan Littler reports a tightening booking window, with people being more cautious about their travel plans. Whale tour operators in Hervey Bay are also experiencing a 30% drop in bookings compared to last year, with general manager Ben Duffy attributing it to travelers holding onto their disposable income.
Tourism operators hope for a reduction in fuel excise to alleviate the pressure on both businesses and travelers.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
