Tourism leaders say any talk about suspending travel to Bali or reintroducing restrictions could seriously threaten the industry as a whole as it struggles to recover from the pandemic.
Key points:
- Tourism industry leaders say calls to close borders threaten general travel confidence
- 1,400 people travel to Bali from Cairns every week
- The government says it will not close trips to Indonesia
Australian Agriculture Minister Murray Watt today ruled out a ban on flights from Indonesia as a way to prevent a devastating livestock disease from entering the country.
Earlier, a Queensland LNP senator had called for the suspension of flights to the tourist hot spot immediately amid growing concerns about the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Indonesia.
Queensland Tourism Industry Council executive director Brett Fraser said the industry was based on consumer confidence and certainty.
“Over the past three years, we’ve seen first-hand that a healthy economy for visitors depends on the reliability and confidence of consumers,” Fraser said.
Australians have traveled to Bali in large numbers since the international borders were reopened. (AP: Firdia Lisnawati)
“Tourists are happy to travel if they feel safe knowing they can come home again.”
Bali has experienced a resurgence of Australian travelers since COVID restrictions were lifted.
Susan McDonald calls for travel between Australia and Indonesia to be restricted or stopped. (Supplied by: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade)
More than 1,400 Bali passengers have traveled through Cairns Airport in the far north of Queensland each week, while Brisbane Airport received 23,000 passengers last month.
LNP Sen. Susan McDonald said travel should be stopped immediately; a proposal that has been rejected by the government.
“If we’re not going to stop flights, impose a forty-seven-day quarantine,” Ms. McDonald said.
“I really understand the size of the request I’m making.”
Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to search, up and down arrows for volume. Listening time: 6 minutes 6 seconds 6 m Calls to ban travel to Bali grow more amid the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease
He said foot-and-mouth disease could have an impact on biblical proportions in the red meat industry in Australia
“I don’t want to be sitting here for weeks or months saying I wish I had taken a break back when we had the chance,” he said.
Measures in force
Mr. Watt is in Indonesia today to talk about the outbreak.
Watt said he had not received any advice from biosafety experts suggesting that trips to Indonesia should be closed.
Biosafety measures have been introduced at airports across the country for flights returning from Bali.
More than 300,000 cattle suffer from foot-and-mouth disease in Indonesia. (Supplied)
They include biosecurity detection dogs that are introduced at Darwin and Cairns airports.
Additional signage and flyer distribution has also been introduced at major airports and additional training has been provided for biosafety staff.
Controlling the spread
More than 300,000 animals in Indonesia have been infected with the disease since it was first detected in the country in May.
Susan McDonald says the restrictions could prevent foot-and-mouth disease from reaching Australia. (Supplied by: Senator Susan McDonald)
Ms McDonald said many travelers could unknowingly carry the disease off the Australian coast.
“Travelers who go to Bali travel to surf, to have cultural interactions, but without remembering that the pig farm or cattle are raised right next to the complex where they are staying,” he said.
“The wheels of his suitcase may be going through garbage on city streets, the shoes they wear even clothes if they have gone somewhere and petted or touched one of the street animals or nearby animals.
“This is not a disease that can only spread if you’ve been to a farm.”