The return of international travel to Australian shores
The Sunshine Coast is preparing for a future of overseas travel.
While international travel remains off the cards for Australia, Visit Sunshine Coast is preparing for the return of international visitors to popular tourist destinations.
Visit Sunshine Coast has launched the International Restart Program in partnership with Pinnacle Marketing, inviting 18 suppliers to take part in a trade-ready international travel program, focusing on the New Zealand tourism market.
“The New Zealand market has always been the Sunshine Coast’s number one international market, attracting over 85,000 visitors annually prior to the pandemic,” said Emily Zinowki, Visit Sunshine Coast trade and distribution manager.
“The potential of the market was further boosted with the start of direct year-round flights from Auckland, and while these flights have been temporarily suspended, we know there is a great appetite in the Kiwi market for what the Sunshine Coast offers.”
According to Ms Zinowki and the Visit Sunshine Coast team, it’s not too early for travellers to start planning for the future of international tourism, especially when it comes to Australia’s Kiwi neighbours.
“Having a wide range of new trade-ready accommodation and experiences will be crucial for rebuilding the market, and our operators are ready to welcome back Kiwis as soon as borders re-open,” Ms Zinowki said.
While the International Restart Program is not accompanied by the reopening of Australia’s international borders, it is a positive sign for the tourism and hospitality sector, offering hope of post-COVID recovery to businesses struggling with the effects of border closures and travel restrictions.
Other articles:
Op-Ed: Testing the waters: How can we approach international tourism in a post-pandemic world?
85 percent drop in ‘fragile’ international travel
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