Queensland restrictions ease slightly this weekend – what does it mean for businesses?
The Home Confinement Direction has been updated to reflect an easing of restrictions coming into effect from Saturday, 2 May.
In addition to leaving home for essential purposes, people in Queensland may leave home for recreational activity such as having a picnic, going for a drive, taking a boat out or shopping for non-essential items. This recreational activity must be within 50km of their home, undertaken with members of their household, or one other person, and all people must continue to practice social distancing.
It is important to note that recreation does not include staying overnight – the easing of restrictions refers to day trips only.
In relation to commercial business operations, Queensland Health has provided Tourism and Events Queensland and tourism operators further clarity on permitted operations from this Saturday, 2 May:
Recreational hire items such as stand-up paddle boards, kayaks, boats, scooters and surfboards are not listed as non-essential businesses and are able to operate while adhering to social distancing and good hygiene practices. Clients must remain within a 50km radius of their principal place of residence and can only be accompanied by members of their household, or one other person.
Lessons (along the lines of personal training – instructor plus one) on recreational craft such as paddle boards, kayaks or surfboards are permitted while adhering to social distancing and good hygiene practices. Clients must remain within a 50km radius of their principal place of residence.
Social sporting-based activities such as sailing trips, diving trips or fishing charters are limited to two people, with social distancing observed and while remaining within 50km of your principal place of residence. Long distance, off-shore or overnight trips are not considered appropriate recreation activities.
Previously closed retail stores may re-open, as there is no public health direction restricting these businesses and the Home Confinement Direction changes now allow Queenslanders to leave home to visit these retailers. See FAQs for more scenarios.
In addition, the Non-Essential Business Direction has been updated to provide even further clarity on who can stay in accommodation. These restrictions remain in place above and beyond the upcoming changes to the Home Confinement Direction.
From 12:01am, Saturday 2 May, some areas of National Parks will reopen for day use only. This includes the reopening of summit tracks at Mount Coolum, the Glasshouse Mountains and Mt Bartle Frere. All camping areas and camp sites in Queensland’s national parks, forests and recreation areas are closed. Full park closures apply to Mt Barney, Moogerah Peaks, Hinchinbrook Island National Park, Moreton Island (Moorgumpin), North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah) and Fraser Island (K’Gari).
New support measures for tourism industry
State land rent relief
Tourism operators leasing state land will be provided relief from state land rent for six months under a series of measures to protect Queensland businesses and jobs. The Queensland Government this week announced it would waive more than $33.8 million in State land rent from 1 April to 30 September to help support businesses during the emergency. The list includes more than 90 tourism lessees across the state, which will be eligible for savings on average of more than $30,000 each. More information can be found here or by calling 13 QGOV (13 74 68).
ATDW fees waived
In response to the unprecedented crisis facing the industry, TEQ in partnership with the regional tourism organisations will be waiving annual membership fees for the Australian Tourism Data Warehouse. The fee waiver will be applied on 15 May 2020 and will extend memberships by 24 months from a businesses’ next membership renewal date. To qualify for the fee waiver, you must be a member of ATDW on 15 May 2020. Full details here.
Sharing Queensland’s natural beauty
TEQ will this week launch a series of Facebook livestreams featuring sunrises and sunsets across the state to showcase how nature is continuing to thrive in Queensland.
Launching this Saturday and running until 12 May, the livestreams form part of TEQ’s current marketing activities to share hope and positivity and ensure Queensland remains relevant, while also reassuring and inspiring people during the ‘homebound’ phase of the pandemic.
Stay connected through our Facebook event for timings and updates and we look forward to welcoming you to wake up and wind down in nature in Queensland.
The livestreams follow on from last week’s launch of TEQ’s content guidelines for its current marketing activity, which have been provided to RTOs and tourism operators to help share a united social media presence for Queensland through the key stages of the pandemic, from ‘homebound’, to emerging and finally an eventual return to travel.
Keeping Queensland front of mind
Gold Coast showcased in Korean TV show
The first episode of Channel A’s new drama series Yoo Byul Na Chef Mun has aired in Korea, showcasing the Gold Coast to an audience of more than 1.75 million viewers. With strong support from industry, Gold Coast experiences featured in around 30 minutes of the hour-long episode and will also be featured in flashbacks as part of the remainder of the series. The show, which has also been viewed more than 100,000 times online, filmed its opening episode on the Gold Coast in early February as part of activity supported by Tourism and Events Queensland in partnership with Tourism Australia, Destination Gold Coast and Jetstar Airways.
Qld outdoors highlighted to Chinese consumers
TEQ’s China team recently joined a consumer-facing livestream organised by media partner Sina Travel to showcase overseas tourism destinations to those dreaming of their next holiday. The livestream was hosted by key opinion leader Travel_Lin and used Weibo to connect with the TEQ team to showcase Queensland. The session reached more than 2.7 million viewers, ensuring Queensland stays top of mind among Chinese consumers. Queensland was featured alongside other international destinations, highlighting desirable outdoor experiences available around the world. The livestream session was promoted via Travel_Lin’s Weibo, TEQ’s weibo and by Sina Travel through their channels.
UK agents learn more about Qld
In the past week, more than 6,000 UK agents have tuned in to Travel Trade Gazette’s (TTG) Facebook Live interview with both Queensland and Western Australia to brush up on their destination knowledge during the COVID-19 lockdown. As part of TTG’s destination-focussed agent training series, TEQ, Tourism WA and TA representatives in the UK showed agents how to combine the two states in a twin-centre itinerary, bringing to life Queensland’s vibrant cities, incredible nature and wildlife and Indigenous culture. Check out TTG on Facebook to catch-up on the interview.
Qld on show with activities in Europe
TEQ’s Europe team also ran a series of webinars last week, connecting with travel agents, product managers and media contacts across the continent. The team worked with 90 retail sales agents registered from northern Europe, 90 trade and media contacts registered in France and 197 retail agents from Italy. There has also been significant PR results, including a media release about ‘Adopt an animal’, ‘Adopt a coral’ and ‘Adopt a reef’ programs in Queensland, which generated more than $800,000 AUD in PR value, reaching 1.8 million online readers. The virtual Queensland road trip also came to an end, reaching a total of more than 430,000 people, with significantly higher than average engagement rates on the series of posts.
Business resource: Advice for small businesses during COVID-19
The Office of the Queensland Chief Entrepreneur has produced a range of content including webinars and other educational resources to assist businesses dealing with the ongoing impacts of COVID-19.
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