❓ The WA Tourism Minister acknowledges the significant negative impact of the Iraq War and SARS on tourism, outlining flight reductions and industry concerns. The government is monitoring the situation, participating in a national crisis response plan, and focusing on boosting domestic tourism.
AnsweredQoN 599Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Is the minister aware of statements from the Australian Tourism Export Council and Qantas Airways Ltd about the effect on travel bookings of the war in Iraq and severe acute respiratory syndrome? (2) What do these releases indicate? (3) What is the Government doing in response to these issues? Mr C.M. BROWN
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Albany for the question and for his interest in this most important issue. (1)-(3) It is true that the war in Iraq and severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, as it has become known, are having a major impact on tourism, not only in Western Australia and Australia but also worldwide. A media release was issued by the Australian Tourism Export Council’s deputy managing director on 25 February, in which he stated - “The economic implications of tourism feeling the front line impact of a conflict cannot be underestimated, potentially delivering a $ 2 billion negative effect on tourism exports for the first 6 months of 2003.” Subsequent to that, on 28 March, when the impact of SARS became more evident, a statement was released by the Chief Executive Officer of Qantas, Mr Geoff Dixon, which indicated that Qantas planned to reduce its international flights by up to 20 per cent between 1 April and the middle of July. Basically, that is being reflected across all world airlines at present. I will deal with the Qantas schedule and flights coming into Australia and Western Australia. There is a reduction of four flights a week from the United Kingdom; a reduction from three to two flights a week from Rome; a reduction in services from three to two a week from Paris; and a reduction in services from Los Angeles from 28 to 25 a week. It was anticipated that the war on Iraq would have a negative impact on tourism worldwide, and in Australia and Western Australia. Now the impact of SARS is having a greater impact. It is true that it is still early days with the SARS issue, but it is having a profound effect on international bookings. I will give one example of the degree to which this disease is having an impact. One hotelier reported the other day that he had received cancellations for the Rugby World Cup 2003, which will be held in October this year. This is a major problem for us. Because of the various crises that the tourism industry Australia-wide has faced over the past two to three years, the tourism ministers agreed to establish a national tourism crisis response plan, which would be activated when a crisis came to fruition in the future. It was hoped that it would not be necessary to initiate that response plan, but it has now been initiated. The Australian Tourist Commission and the Western Australian Tourism Commission are both gathering market intelligence to examine the areas in which the impacts are having the greatest effect. It looks like different parts of the industry will be impacted by SARS and the war in Iraq. Certainly, city tourism and five-star hotel tourism will be severely impacted, as will business tourism. The Leader of the Opposition and I were at a function the other evening with oil company executives. During that function, senior oil company executives indicated to me that they had put a ban on their senior officers flying. If that is happening in the oil industry, it will be happening industry-wide. We are receiving major weekly updates on travel intentions internationally in our major markets - Japan, the United Kingdom, Malaysia and Singapore - and elsewhere. Of course, we are very much aware of the number of initiatives that have been taken at the international level; for example, at Changi Airport in Singapore, where health checks of all passengers are being made. This is an uncertain time for us all. We are doing our best to monitor the events, and we are certainly looking towards seeking to boost as best we can domestic tourism. Over the next three to four weeks, particularly with the SARS issue being unresolved, this will be a problematic time for the industry both in Western Australia and Australia-wide.
(2) What do these releases indicate? (3) What is the Government doing in response to these issues? Mr C.M. BROWN replied: I thank the member for Albany for the question and for his interest in this most important issue. (1)-(3) It is true that the war in Iraq and severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, as it has become known, are having a major impact on tourism, not only in Western Australia and Australia but also worldwide. A media release was issued by the Australian Tourism Export Council’s deputy managing director on 25 February, in which he stated - “The economic implications of tourism feeling the front line impact of a conflict cannot be underestimated, potentially delivering a $ 2 billion negative effect on tourism exports for the first 6 months of 2003.” Subsequent to that, on 28 March, when the impact of SARS became more evident, a statement was released by the Chief Executive Officer of Qantas, Mr Geoff Dixon, which indicated that Qantas planned to reduce its international flights by up to 20 per cent between 1 April and the middle of July. Basically, that is being reflected across all world airlines at present. I will deal with the Qantas schedule and flights coming into Australia and Western Australia. There is a reduction of four flights a week from the United Kingdom; a reduction from three to two flights a week from Rome; a reduction in services from three to two a week from Paris; and a reduction in services from Los Angeles from 28 to 25 a week. It was anticipated that the war on Iraq would have a negative impact on tourism worldwide, and in Australia and Western Australia. Now the impact of SARS is having a greater impact. It is true that it is still early days with the SARS issue, but it is having a profound effect on international bookings. I will give one example of the degree to which this disease is having an impact. One hotelier reported the other day that he had received cancellations for the Rugby World Cup 2003, which will be held in October this year. This is a major problem for us. Because of the various crises that the tourism industry Australia-wide has faced over the past two to three years, the tourism ministers agreed to establish a national tourism crisis response plan, which would be activated when a crisis came to fruition in the future. It was hoped that it would not be necessary to initiate that response plan, but it has now been initiated. The Australian Tourist Commission and the Western Australian Tourism Commission are both gathering market intelligence to examine the areas in which the impacts are having the greatest effect. It looks like different parts of the industry will be impacted by SARS and the war in Iraq. Certainly, city tourism and five-star hotel tourism will be severely impacted, as will business tourism. The Leader of the Opposition and I were at a function the other evening with oil company executives. During that function, senior oil company executives indicated to me that they had put a ban on their senior officers flying. If that is happening in the oil industry, it will be happening industry-wide. We are receiving major weekly updates on travel intentions internationally in our major markets - Japan, the United Kingdom, Malaysia and Singapore - and elsewhere. Of course, we are very much aware of the number of initiatives that have been taken at the international level; for example, at Changi Airport in Singapore, where health checks of all passengers are being made. This is an uncertain time for us all. We are doing our best to monitor the events, and we are certainly looking towards seeking to boost as best we can domestic tourism. Over the next three to four weeks, particularly with the SARS issue being unresolved, this will be a problematic time for the industry both in Western Australia and Australia-wide.
(3) What is the Government doing in response to these issues? Mr C.M. BROWN replied: I thank the member for Albany for the question and for his interest in this most important issue. (1)-(3) It is true that the war in Iraq and severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, as it has become known, are having a major impact on tourism, not only in Western Australia and Australia but also worldwide. A media release was issued by the Australian Tourism Export Council’s deputy managing director on 25 February, in which he stated - “The economic implications of tourism feeling the front line impact of a conflict cannot be underestimated, potentially delivering a $ 2 billion negative effect on tourism exports for the first 6 months of 2003.” Subsequent to that, on 28 March, when the impact of SARS became more evident, a statement was released by the Chief Executive Officer of Qantas, Mr Geoff Dixon, which indicated that Qantas planned to reduce its international flights by up to 20 per cent between 1 April and the middle of July. Basically, that is being reflected across all world airlines at present. I will deal with the Qantas schedule and flights coming into Australia and Western Australia. There is a reduction of four flights a week from the United Kingdom; a reduction from three to two flights a week from Rome; a reduction in services from three to two a week from Paris; and a reduction in services from Los Angeles from 28 to 25 a week. It was anticipated that the war on Iraq would have a negative impact on tourism worldwide, and in Australia and Western Australia. Now the impact of SARS is having a greater impact. It is true that it is still early days with the SARS issue, but it is having a profound effect on international bookings. I will give one example of the degree to which this disease is having an impact. One hotelier reported the other day that he had received cancellations for the Rugby World Cup 2003, which will be held in October this year. This is a major problem for us. Because of the various crises that the tourism industry Australia-wide has faced over the past two to three years, the tourism ministers agreed to establish a national tourism crisis response plan, which would be activated when a crisis came to fruition in the future. It was hoped that it would not be necessary to initiate that response plan, but it has now been initiated. The Australian Tourist Commission and the Western Australian Tourism Commission are both gathering market intelligence to examine the areas in which the impacts are having the greatest effect. It looks like different parts of the industry will be impacted by SARS and the war in Iraq. Certainly, city tourism and five-star hotel tourism will be severely impacted, as will business tourism. The Leader of the Opposition and I were at a function the other evening with oil company executives. During that function, senior oil company executives indicated to me that they had put a ban on their senior officers flying. If that is happening in the oil industry, it will be happening industry-wide. We are receiving major weekly updates on travel intentions internationally in our major markets - Japan, the United Kingdom, Malaysia and Singapore - and elsewhere. Of course, we are very much aware of the number of initiatives that have been taken at the international level; for example, at Changi Airport in Singapore, where health checks of all passengers are being made. This is an uncertain time for us all. We are doing our best to monitor the events, and we are certainly looking towards seeking to boost as best we can domestic tourism. Over the next three to four weeks, particularly with the SARS issue being unresolved, this will be a problematic time for the industry both in Western Australia and Australia-wide.
Mr C.M. BROWN replied: I thank the member for Albany for the question and for his interest in this most important issue. (1)-(3) It is true that the war in Iraq and severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, as it has become known, are having a major impact on tourism, not only in Western Australia and Australia but also worldwide. A media release was issued by the Australian Tourism Export Council’s deputy managing director on 25 February, in which he stated - “The economic implications of tourism feeling the front line impact of a conflict cannot be underestimated, potentially delivering a $ 2 billion negative effect on tourism exports for the first 6 months of 2003.” Subsequent to that, on 28 March, when the impact of SARS became more evident, a statement was released by the Chief Executive Officer of Qantas, Mr Geoff Dixon, which indicated that Qantas planned to reduce its international flights by up to 20 per cent between 1 April and the middle of July. Basically, that is being reflected across all world airlines at present. I will deal with the Qantas schedule and flights coming into Australia and Western Australia. There is a reduction of four flights a week from the United Kingdom; a reduction from three to two flights a week from Rome; a reduction in services from three to two a week from Paris; and a reduction in services from Los Angeles from 28 to 25 a week. It was anticipated that the war on Iraq would have a negative impact on tourism worldwide, and in Australia and Western Australia. Now the impact of SARS is having a greater impact. It is true that it is still early days with the SARS issue, but it is having a profound effect on international bookings. I will give one example of the degree to which this disease is having an impact. One hotelier reported the other day that he had received cancellations for the Rugby World Cup 2003, which will be held in October this year. This is a major problem for us. Because of the various crises that the tourism industry Australia-wide has faced over the past two to three years, the tourism ministers agreed to establish a national tourism crisis response plan, which would be activated when a crisis came to fruition in the future. It was hoped that it would not be necessary to initiate that response plan, but it has now been initiated. The Australian Tourist Commission and the Western Australian Tourism Commission are both gathering market intelligence to examine the areas in which the impacts are having the greatest effect. It looks like different parts of the industry will be impacted by SARS and the war in Iraq. Certainly, city tourism and five-star hotel tourism will be severely impacted, as will business tourism. The Leader of the Opposition and I were at a function the other evening with oil company executives. During that function, senior oil company executives indicated to me that they had put a ban on their senior officers flying. If that is happening in the oil industry, it will be happening industry-wide. We are receiving major weekly updates on travel intentions internationally in our major markets - Japan, the United Kingdom, Malaysia and Singapore - and elsewhere. Of course, we are very much aware of the number of initiatives that have been taken at the international level; for example, at Changi Airport in Singapore, where health checks of all passengers are being made. This is an uncertain time for us all. We are doing our best to monitor the events, and we are certainly looking towards seeking to boost as best we can domestic tourism. Over the next three to four weeks, particularly with the SARS issue being unresolved, this will be a problematic time for the industry both in Western Australia and Australia-wide.
I thank the member for Albany for the question and for his interest in this most important issue. (1)-(3) It is true that the war in Iraq and severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, as it has become known, are having a major impact on tourism, not only in Western Australia and Australia but also worldwide. A media release was issued by the Australian Tourism Export Council’s deputy managing director on 25 February, in which he stated - “The economic implications of tourism feeling the front line impact of a conflict cannot be underestimated, potentially delivering a $ 2 billion negative effect on tourism exports for the first 6 months of 2003.” Subsequent to that, on 28 March, when the impact of SARS became more evident, a statement was released by the Chief Executive Officer of Qantas, Mr Geoff Dixon, which indicated that Qantas planned to reduce its international flights by up to 20 per cent between 1 April and the middle of July. Basically, that is being reflected across all world airlines at present. I will deal with the Qantas schedule and flights coming into Australia and Western Australia. There is a reduction of four flights a week from the United Kingdom; a reduction from three to two flights a week from Rome; a reduction in services from three to two a week from Paris; and a reduction in services from Los Angeles from 28 to 25 a week. It was anticipated that the war on Iraq would have a negative impact on tourism worldwide, and in Australia and Western Australia. Now the impact of SARS is having a greater impact. It is true that it is still early days with the SARS issue, but it is having a profound effect on international bookings. I will give one example of the degree to which this disease is having an impact. One hotelier reported the other day that he had received cancellations for the Rugby World Cup 2003, which will be held in October this year. This is a major problem for us. Because of the various crises that the tourism industry Australia-wide has faced over the past two to three years, the tourism ministers agreed to establish a national tourism crisis response plan, which would be activated when a crisis came to fruition in the future. It was hoped that it would not be necessary to initiate that response plan, but it has now been initiated. The Australian Tourist Commission and the Western Australian Tourism Commission are both gathering market intelligence to examine the areas in which the impacts are having the greatest effect. It looks like different parts of the industry will be impacted by SARS and the war in Iraq. Certainly, city tourism and five-star hotel tourism will be severely impacted, as will business tourism. The Leader of the Opposition and I were at a function the other evening with oil company executives. During that function, senior oil company executives indicated to me that they had put a ban on their senior officers flying. If that is happening in the oil industry, it will be happening industry-wide. We are receiving major weekly updates on travel intentions internationally in our major markets - Japan, the United Kingdom, Malaysia and Singapore - and elsewhere. Of course, we are very much aware of the number of initiatives that have been taken at the international level; for example, at Changi Airport in Singapore, where health checks of all passengers are being made. This is an uncertain time for us all. We are doing our best to monitor the events, and we are certainly looking towards seeking to boost as best we can domestic tourism. Over the next three to four weeks, particularly with the SARS issue being unresolved, this will be a problematic time for the industry both in Western Australia and Australia-wide.
(1)-(3) It is true that the war in Iraq and severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, as it has become known, are having a major impact on tourism, not only in Western Australia and Australia but also worldwide. A media release was issued by the Australian Tourism Export Council’s deputy managing director on 25 February, in which he stated - “The economic implications of tourism feeling the front line impact of a conflict cannot be underestimated, potentially delivering a $ 2 billion negative effect on tourism exports for the first 6 months of 2003.” Subsequent to that, on 28 March, when the impact of SARS became more evident, a statement was released by the Chief Executive Officer of Qantas, Mr Geoff Dixon, which indicated that Qantas planned to reduce its international flights by up to 20 per cent between 1 April and the middle of July. Basically, that is being reflected across all world airlines at present. I will deal with the Qantas schedule and flights coming into Australia and Western Australia. There is a reduction of four flights a week from the United Kingdom; a reduction from three to two flights a week from Rome; a reduction in services from three to two a week from Paris; and a reduction in services from Los Angeles from 28 to 25 a week. It was anticipated that the war on Iraq would have a negative impact on tourism worldwide, and in Australia and Western Australia. Now the impact of SARS is having a greater impact. It is true that it is still early days with the SARS issue, but it is having a profound effect on international bookings. I will give one example of the degree to which this disease is having an impact. One hotelier reported the other day that he had received cancellations for the Rugby World Cup 2003, which will be held in October this year. This is a major problem for us. Because of the various crises that the tourism industry Australia-wide has faced over the past two to three years, the tourism ministers agreed to establish a national tourism crisis response plan, which would be activated when a crisis came to fruition in the future. It was hoped that it would not be necessary to initiate that response plan, but it has now been initiated. The Australian Tourist Commission and the Western Australian Tourism Commission are both gathering market intelligence to examine the areas in which the impacts are having the greatest effect. It looks like different parts of the industry will be impacted by SARS and the war in Iraq. Certainly, city tourism and five-star hotel tourism will be severely impacted, as will business tourism. The Leader of the Opposition and I were at a function the other evening with oil company executives. During that function, senior oil company executives indicated to me that they had put a ban on their senior officers flying. If that is happening in the oil industry, it will be happening industry-wide. We are receiving major weekly updates on travel intentions internationally in our major markets - Japan, the United Kingdom, Malaysia and Singapore - and elsewhere. Of course, we are very much aware of the number of initiatives that have been taken at the international level; for example, at Changi Airport in Singapore, where health checks of all passengers are being made. This is an uncertain time for us all. We are doing our best to monitor the events, and we are certainly looking towards seeking to boost as best we can domestic tourism. Over the next three to four weeks, particularly with the SARS issue being unresolved, this will be a problematic time for the industry both in Western Australia and Australia-wide.
It was anticipated that the war on Iraq would have a negative impact on tourism worldwide, and in Australia and Western Australia. Now the impact of SARS is having a greater impact. It is true that it is still early days with the SARS issue, but it is having a profound effect on international bookings. I will give one example of the degree to which this disease is having an impact. One hotelier reported the other day that he had received cancellations for the Rugby World Cup 2003, which will be held in October this year. This is a major problem for us. Because of the various crises that the tourism industry Australia-wide has faced over the past two to three years, the tourism ministers agreed to establish a national tourism crisis response plan, which would be activated when a crisis came to fruition in the future. It was hoped that it would not be necessary to initiate that response plan, but it has now been initiated. The Australian Tourist Commission and the Western Australian Tourism Commission are both gathering market intelligence to examine the areas in which the impacts are having the greatest effect. It looks like different parts of the industry will be impacted by SARS and the war in Iraq. Certainly, city tourism and five-star hotel tourism will be severely impacted, as will business tourism. The Leader of the Opposition and I were at a function the other evening with oil company executives. During that function, senior oil company executives indicated to me that they had put a ban on their senior officers flying. If that is happening in the oil industry, it will be happening industry-wide. We are receiving major weekly updates on travel intentions internationally in our major markets - Japan, the United Kingdom, Malaysia and Singapore - and elsewhere. Of course, we are very much aware of the number of initiatives that have been taken at the international level; for example, at Changi Airport in Singapore, where health checks of all passengers are being made. This is an uncertain time for us all. We are doing our best to monitor the events, and we are certainly looking towards seeking to boost as best we can domestic tourism. Over the next three to four weeks, particularly with the SARS issue being unresolved, this will be a problematic time for the industry both in Western Australia and Australia-wide.
The Australian Tourist Commission and the Western Australian Tourism Commission are both gathering market intelligence to examine the areas in which the impacts are having the greatest effect. It looks like different parts of the industry will be impacted by SARS and the war in Iraq. Certainly, city tourism and five-star hotel tourism will be severely impacted, as will business tourism. The Leader of the Opposition and I were at a function the other evening with oil company executives. During that function, senior oil company executives indicated to me that they had put a ban on their senior officers flying. If that is happening in the oil industry, it will be happening industry-wide. We are receiving major weekly updates on travel intentions internationally in our major markets - Japan, the United Kingdom, Malaysia and Singapore - and elsewhere. Of course, we are very much aware of the number of initiatives that have been taken at the international level; for example, at Changi Airport in Singapore, where health checks of all passengers are being made. This is an uncertain time for us all. We are doing our best to monitor the events, and we are certainly looking towards seeking to boost as best we can domestic tourism. Over the next three to four weeks, particularly with the SARS issue being unresolved, this will be a problematic time for the industry both in Western Australia and Australia-wide.
We are receiving major weekly updates on travel intentions internationally in our major markets - Japan, the United Kingdom, Malaysia and Singapore - and elsewhere. Of course, we are very much aware of the number of initiatives that have been taken at the international level; for example, at Changi Airport in Singapore, where health checks of all passengers are being made. This is an uncertain time for us all. We are doing our best to monitor the events, and we are certainly looking towards seeking to boost as best we can domestic tourism. Over the next three to four weeks, particularly with the SARS issue being unresolved, this will be a problematic time for the industry both in Western Australia and Australia-wide.
This is an uncertain time for us all. We are doing our best to monitor the events, and we are certainly looking towards seeking to boost as best we can domestic tourism. Over the next three to four weeks, particularly with the SARS issue being unresolved, this will be a problematic time for the industry both in Western Australia and Australia-wide.
(2) What do these releases indicate? (3) What is the Government doing in response to these issues? Mr C.M. BROWN replied: I thank the member for Albany for the question and for his interest in this most important issue. (1)-(3) It is true that the war in Iraq and severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, as it has become known, are having a major impact on tourism, not only in Western Australia and Australia but also worldwide. A media release was issued by the Australian Tourism Export Council’s deputy managing director on 25 February, in which he stated - “The economic implications of tourism feeling the front line impact of a conflict cannot be underestimated, potentially delivering a $ 2 billion negative effect on tourism exports for the first 6 months of 2003.” Subsequent to that, on 28 March, when the impact of SARS became more evident, a statement was released by the Chief Executive Officer of Qantas, Mr Geoff Dixon, which indicated that Qantas planned to reduce its international flights by up to 20 per cent between 1 April and the middle of July. Basically, that is being reflected across all world airlines at present. I will deal with the Qantas schedule and flights coming into Australia and Western Australia. There is a reduction of four flights a week from the United Kingdom; a reduction from three to two flights a week from Rome; a reduction in services from three to two a week from Paris; and a reduction in services from Los Angeles from 28 to 25 a week. It was anticipated that the war on Iraq would have a negative impact on tourism worldwide, and in Australia and Western Australia. Now the impact of SARS is having a greater impact. It is true that it is still early days with the SARS issue, but it is having a profound effect on international bookings. I will give one example of the degree to which this disease is having an impact. One hotelier reported the other day that he had received cancellations for the Rugby World Cup 2003, which will be held in October this year. This is a major problem for us. Because of the various crises that the tourism industry Australia-wide has faced over the past two to three years, the tourism ministers agreed to establish a national tourism crisis response plan, which would be activated when a crisis came to fruition in the future. It was hoped that it would not be necessary to initiate that response plan, but it has now been initiated. The Australian Tourist Commission and the Western Australian Tourism Commission are both gathering market intelligence to examine the areas in which the impacts are having the greatest effect. It looks like different parts of the industry will be impacted by SARS and the war in Iraq. Certainly, city tourism and five-star hotel tourism will be severely impacted, as will business tourism. The Leader of the Opposition and I were at a function the other evening with oil company executives. During that function, senior oil company executives indicated to me that they had put a ban on their senior officers flying. If that is happening in the oil industry, it will be happening industry-wide. We are receiving major weekly updates on travel intentions internationally in our major markets - Japan, the United Kingdom, Malaysia and Singapore - and elsewhere. Of course, we are very much aware of the number of initiatives that have been taken at the international level; for example, at Changi Airport in Singapore, where health checks of all passengers are being made. This is an uncertain time for us all. We are doing our best to monitor the events, and we are certainly looking towards seeking to boost as best we can domestic tourism. Over the next three to four weeks, particularly with the SARS issue being unresolved, this will be a problematic time for the industry both in Western Australia and Australia-wide.
(3) What is the Government doing in response to these issues? Mr C.M. BROWN replied: I thank the member for Albany for the question and for his interest in this most important issue. (1)-(3) It is true that the war in Iraq and severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, as it has become known, are having a major impact on tourism, not only in Western Australia and Australia but also worldwide. A media release was issued by the Australian Tourism Export Council’s deputy managing director on 25 February, in which he stated - “The economic implications of tourism feeling the front line impact of a conflict cannot be underestimated, potentially delivering a $ 2 billion negative effect on tourism exports for the first 6 months of 2003.” Subsequent to that, on 28 March, when the impact of SARS became more evident, a statement was released by the Chief Executive Officer of Qantas, Mr Geoff Dixon, which indicated that Qantas planned to reduce its international flights by up to 20 per cent between 1 April and the middle of July. Basically, that is being reflected across all world airlines at present. I will deal with the Qantas schedule and flights coming into Australia and Western Australia. There is a reduction of four flights a week from the United Kingdom; a reduction from three to two flights a week from Rome; a reduction in services from three to two a week from Paris; and a reduction in services from Los Angeles from 28 to 25 a week. It was anticipated that the war on Iraq would have a negative impact on tourism worldwide, and in Australia and Western Australia. Now the impact of SARS is having a greater impact. It is true that it is still early days with the SARS issue, but it is having a profound effect on international bookings. I will give one example of the degree to which this disease is having an impact. One hotelier reported the other day that he had received cancellations for the Rugby World Cup 2003, which will be held in October this year. This is a major problem for us. Because of the various crises that the tourism industry Australia-wide has faced over the past two to three years, the tourism ministers agreed to establish a national tourism crisis response plan, which would be activated when a crisis came to fruition in the future. It was hoped that it would not be necessary to initiate that response plan, but it has now been initiated. The Australian Tourist Commission and the Western Australian Tourism Commission are both gathering market intelligence to examine the areas in which the impacts are having the greatest effect. It looks like different parts of the industry will be impacted by SARS and the war in Iraq. Certainly, city tourism and five-star hotel tourism will be severely impacted, as will business tourism. The Leader of the Opposition and I were at a function the other evening with oil company executives. During that function, senior oil company executives indicated to me that they had put a ban on their senior officers flying. If that is happening in the oil industry, it will be happening industry-wide. We are receiving major weekly updates on travel intentions internationally in our major markets - Japan, the United Kingdom, Malaysia and Singapore - and elsewhere. Of course, we are very much aware of the number of initiatives that have been taken at the international level; for example, at Changi Airport in Singapore, where health checks of all passengers are being made. This is an uncertain time for us all. We are doing our best to monitor the events, and we are certainly looking towards seeking to boost as best we can domestic tourism. Over the next three to four weeks, particularly with the SARS issue being unresolved, this will be a problematic time for the industry both in Western Australia and Australia-wide.
Mr C.M. BROWN replied: I thank the member for Albany for the question and for his interest in this most important issue. (1)-(3) It is true that the war in Iraq and severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, as it has become known, are having a major impact on tourism, not only in Western Australia and Australia but also worldwide. A media release was issued by the Australian Tourism Export Council’s deputy managing director on 25 February, in which he stated - “The economic implications of tourism feeling the front line impact of a conflict cannot be underestimated, potentially delivering a $ 2 billion negative effect on tourism exports for the first 6 months of 2003.” Subsequent to that, on 28 March, when the impact of SARS became more evident, a statement was released by the Chief Executive Officer of Qantas, Mr Geoff Dixon, which indicated that Qantas planned to reduce its international flights by up to 20 per cent between 1 April and the middle of July. Basically, that is being reflected across all world airlines at present. I will deal with the Qantas schedule and flights coming into Australia and Western Australia. There is a reduction of four flights a week from the United Kingdom; a reduction from three to two flights a week from Rome; a reduction in services from three to two a week from Paris; and a reduction in services from Los Angeles from 28 to 25 a week. It was anticipated that the war on Iraq would have a negative impact on tourism worldwide, and in Australia and Western Australia. Now the impact of SARS is having a greater impact. It is true that it is still early days with the SARS issue, but it is having a profound effect on international bookings. I will give one example of the degree to which this disease is having an impact. One hotelier reported the other day that he had received cancellations for the Rugby World Cup 2003, which will be held in October this year. This is a major problem for us. Because of the various crises that the tourism industry Australia-wide has faced over the past two to three years, the tourism ministers agreed to establish a national tourism crisis response plan, which would be activated when a crisis came to fruition in the future. It was hoped that it would not be necessary to initiate that response plan, but it has now been initiated. The Australian Tourist Commission and the Western Australian Tourism Commission are both gathering market intelligence to examine the areas in which the impacts are having the greatest effect. It looks like different parts of the industry will be impacted by SARS and the war in Iraq. Certainly, city tourism and five-star hotel tourism will be severely impacted, as will business tourism. The Leader of the Opposition and I were at a function the other evening with oil company executives. During that function, senior oil company executives indicated to me that they had put a ban on their senior officers flying. If that is happening in the oil industry, it will be happening industry-wide. We are receiving major weekly updates on travel intentions internationally in our major markets - Japan, the United Kingdom, Malaysia and Singapore - and elsewhere. Of course, we are very much aware of the number of initiatives that have been taken at the international level; for example, at Changi Airport in Singapore, where health checks of all passengers are being made. This is an uncertain time for us all. We are doing our best to monitor the events, and we are certainly looking towards seeking to boost as best we can domestic tourism. Over the next three to four weeks, particularly with the SARS issue being unresolved, this will be a problematic time for the industry both in Western Australia and Australia-wide.
I thank the member for Albany for the question and for his interest in this most important issue. (1)-(3) It is true that the war in Iraq and severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, as it has become known, are having a major impact on tourism, not only in Western Australia and Australia but also worldwide. A media release was issued by the Australian Tourism Export Council’s deputy managing director on 25 February, in which he stated - “The economic implications of tourism feeling the front line impact of a conflict cannot be underestimated, potentially delivering a $ 2 billion negative effect on tourism exports for the first 6 months of 2003.” Subsequent to that, on 28 March, when the impact of SARS became more evident, a statement was released by the Chief Executive Officer of Qantas, Mr Geoff Dixon, which indicated that Qantas planned to reduce its international flights by up to 20 per cent between 1 April and the middle of July. Basically, that is being reflected across all world airlines at present. I will deal with the Qantas schedule and flights coming into Australia and Western Australia. There is a reduction of four flights a week from the United Kingdom; a reduction from three to two flights a week from Rome; a reduction in services from three to two a week from Paris; and a reduction in services from Los Angeles from 28 to 25 a week. It was anticipated that the war on Iraq would have a negative impact on tourism worldwide, and in Australia and Western Australia. Now the impact of SARS is having a greater impact. It is true that it is still early days with the SARS issue, but it is having a profound effect on international bookings. I will give one example of the degree to which this disease is having an impact. One hotelier reported the other day that he had received cancellations for the Rugby World Cup 2003, which will be held in October this year. This is a major problem for us. Because of the various crises that the tourism industry Australia-wide has faced over the past two to three years, the tourism ministers agreed to establish a national tourism crisis response plan, which would be activated when a crisis came to fruition in the future. It was hoped that it would not be necessary to initiate that response plan, but it has now been initiated. The Australian Tourist Commission and the Western Australian Tourism Commission are both gathering market intelligence to examine the areas in which the impacts are having the greatest effect. It looks like different parts of the industry will be impacted by SARS and the war in Iraq. Certainly, city tourism and five-star hotel tourism will be severely impacted, as will business tourism. The Leader of the Opposition and I were at a function the other evening with oil company executives. During that function, senior oil company executives indicated to me that they had put a ban on their senior officers flying. If that is happening in the oil industry, it will be happening industry-wide. We are receiving major weekly updates on travel intentions internationally in our major markets - Japan, the United Kingdom, Malaysia and Singapore - and elsewhere. Of course, we are very much aware of the number of initiatives that have been taken at the international level; for example, at Changi Airport in Singapore, where health checks of all passengers are being made. This is an uncertain time for us all. We are doing our best to monitor the events, and we are certainly looking towards seeking to boost as best we can domestic tourism. Over the next three to four weeks, particularly with the SARS issue being unresolved, this will be a problematic time for the industry both in Western Australia and Australia-wide.
(1)-(3) It is true that the war in Iraq and severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, as it has become known, are having a major impact on tourism, not only in Western Australia and Australia but also worldwide. A media release was issued by the Australian Tourism Export Council’s deputy managing director on 25 February, in which he stated - “The economic implications of tourism feeling the front line impact of a conflict cannot be underestimated, potentially delivering a $ 2 billion negative effect on tourism exports for the first 6 months of 2003.” Subsequent to that, on 28 March, when the impact of SARS became more evident, a statement was released by the Chief Executive Officer of Qantas, Mr Geoff Dixon, which indicated that Qantas planned to reduce its international flights by up to 20 per cent between 1 April and the middle of July. Basically, that is being reflected across all world airlines at present. I will deal with the Qantas schedule and flights coming into Australia and Western Australia. There is a reduction of four flights a week from the United Kingdom; a reduction from three to two flights a week from Rome; a reduction in services from three to two a week from Paris; and a reduction in services from Los Angeles from 28 to 25 a week. It was anticipated that the war on Iraq would have a negative impact on tourism worldwide, and in Australia and Western Australia. Now the impact of SARS is having a greater impact. It is true that it is still early days with the SARS issue, but it is having a profound effect on international bookings. I will give one example of the degree to which this disease is having an impact. One hotelier reported the other day that he had received cancellations for the Rugby World Cup 2003, which will be held in October this year. This is a major problem for us. Because of the various crises that the tourism industry Australia-wide has faced over the past two to three years, the tourism ministers agreed to establish a national tourism crisis response plan, which would be activated when a crisis came to fruition in the future. It was hoped that it would not be necessary to initiate that response plan, but it has now been initiated. The Australian Tourist Commission and the Western Australian Tourism Commission are both gathering market intelligence to examine the areas in which the impacts are having the greatest effect. It looks like different parts of the industry will be impacted by SARS and the war in Iraq. Certainly, city tourism and five-star hotel tourism will be severely impacted, as will business tourism. The Leader of the Opposition and I were at a function the other evening with oil company executives. During that function, senior oil company executives indicated to me that they had put a ban on their senior officers flying. If that is happening in the oil industry, it will be happening industry-wide. We are receiving major weekly updates on travel intentions internationally in our major markets - Japan, the United Kingdom, Malaysia and Singapore - and elsewhere. Of course, we are very much aware of the number of initiatives that have been taken at the international level; for example, at Changi Airport in Singapore, where health checks of all passengers are being made. This is an uncertain time for us all. We are doing our best to monitor the events, and we are certainly looking towards seeking to boost as best we can domestic tourism. Over the next three to four weeks, particularly with the SARS issue being unresolved, this will be a problematic time for the industry both in Western Australia and Australia-wide.
It was anticipated that the war on Iraq would have a negative impact on tourism worldwide, and in Australia and Western Australia. Now the impact of SARS is having a greater impact. It is true that it is still early days with the SARS issue, but it is having a profound effect on international bookings. I will give one example of the degree to which this disease is having an impact. One hotelier reported the other day that he had received cancellations for the Rugby World Cup 2003, which will be held in October this year. This is a major problem for us. Because of the various crises that the tourism industry Australia-wide has faced over the past two to three years, the tourism ministers agreed to establish a national tourism crisis response plan, which would be activated when a crisis came to fruition in the future. It was hoped that it would not be necessary to initiate that response plan, but it has now been initiated. The Australian Tourist Commission and the Western Australian Tourism Commission are both gathering market intelligence to examine the areas in which the impacts are having the greatest effect. It looks like different parts of the industry will be impacted by SARS and the war in Iraq. Certainly, city tourism and five-star hotel tourism will be severely impacted, as will business tourism. The Leader of the Opposition and I were at a function the other evening with oil company executives. During that function, senior oil company executives indicated to me that they had put a ban on their senior officers flying. If that is happening in the oil industry, it will be happening industry-wide. We are receiving major weekly updates on travel intentions internationally in our major markets - Japan, the United Kingdom, Malaysia and Singapore - and elsewhere. Of course, we are very much aware of the number of initiatives that have been taken at the international level; for example, at Changi Airport in Singapore, where health checks of all passengers are being made. This is an uncertain time for us all. We are doing our best to monitor the events, and we are certainly looking towards seeking to boost as best we can domestic tourism. Over the next three to four weeks, particularly with the SARS issue being unresolved, this will be a problematic time for the industry both in Western Australia and Australia-wide.
The Australian Tourist Commission and the Western Australian Tourism Commission are both gathering market intelligence to examine the areas in which the impacts are having the greatest effect. It looks like different parts of the industry will be impacted by SARS and the war in Iraq. Certainly, city tourism and five-star hotel tourism will be severely impacted, as will business tourism. The Leader of the Opposition and I were at a function the other evening with oil company executives. During that function, senior oil company executives indicated to me that they had put a ban on their senior officers flying. If that is happening in the oil industry, it will be happening industry-wide. We are receiving major weekly updates on travel intentions internationally in our major markets - Japan, the United Kingdom, Malaysia and Singapore - and elsewhere. Of course, we are very much aware of the number of initiatives that have been taken at the international level; for example, at Changi Airport in Singapore, where health checks of all passengers are being made. This is an uncertain time for us all. We are doing our best to monitor the events, and we are certainly looking towards seeking to boost as best we can domestic tourism. Over the next three to four weeks, particularly with the SARS issue being unresolved, this will be a problematic time for the industry both in Western Australia and Australia-wide.
We are receiving major weekly updates on travel intentions internationally in our major markets - Japan, the United Kingdom, Malaysia and Singapore - and elsewhere. Of course, we are very much aware of the number of initiatives that have been taken at the international level; for example, at Changi Airport in Singapore, where health checks of all passengers are being made. This is an uncertain time for us all. We are doing our best to monitor the events, and we are certainly looking towards seeking to boost as best we can domestic tourism. Over the next three to four weeks, particularly with the SARS issue being unresolved, this will be a problematic time for the industry both in Western Australia and Australia-wide.
This is an uncertain time for us all. We are doing our best to monitor the events, and we are certainly looking towards seeking to boost as best we can domestic tourism. Over the next three to four weeks, particularly with the SARS issue being unresolved, this will be a problematic time for the industry both in Western Australia and Australia-wide.
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