The tourism industry says if Queensland’s border remains closed to the rest of the country over the summer holidays it will be a devastating prospect for operators on the brink.

Yesterday Deputy Premier Steven Miles say Queenslanders didn’t want to “let COVID in for Christmas” if NSW still has the virus in the community.

Today he said it was unclear when the right time was to open up.

Chief Executive Officer of the Tourism & Transport Forum Australia, Margy Osmond, says it was disheartening.

“I have to be honest Scott, my heart sank, and it sank because I know what an impact this will have on the tourism industry up there,” she told Scott Emerson.

“September is the fourth set of school holidays that we have lost nationally and around the country, that is about $22 billion just over the period of those four school holidays, and about a quarter of that is Queensland.

“The prospect of not getting those summer school holidays would be devastating.”

Today the Premier refused to commit to a re-opening target but says she was hoping to give more clarity in the coming days.

Ms Osmond said Australians spend $118 million a day in that two-three week key period in the summer break.

The government released an ad on the weekend urging Queenslanders to get the jab.

Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is the best way to protect yourself and our Queensland way of life.

That’s why we’ve just launched a major ad campaign to encourage as many Queenslanders aged 12 and over to get vaccinated as soon as possible.#covid19 pic.twitter.com/eDd1vVKRhO

— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) September 26, 2021

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Image: Getty 

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