Traders change tack
THE tourism industry is expected to take a battering in 2009, but Far Northern businesses are changing tactics to meet the challenge.
A Tourism Australia report showed spending by inbound visitors to Australia was likely to drop by 4 per cent to $24 billion in 2009 with visitor numbers falling from 5.56 million in 2008 to 5.33 million.
Not only is the Japanese market expected to decline further but the Chinese market is also predicted to fall.
Authors of the report believe it will be the worst year for inbound tourism since the pilots’ strike in 1989.
Premier Anna Bligh has urged Queenslanders to "holiday at home" next year to stimulate the tourism sector.
CaPTA tourism group owner Charles Woodward is one of those prepared to change, putting more effort into the domestic market.
"International tourism always will be vital but with these changed economic times, less Australians will be going overseas," he said.
"So it makes sense to focus on the domestic market."
Other traders have adapted to the challenge in other ways.
"We’ve noticed since the credit crunch hit hard three months ago, people haven’t been buying paintings above $10,000," Doongal Aboriginal Art Gallery manager Nava Wahl said.
"So we’ve gone for more little paintings and gifts. We’ve changed some of our merchandise.
"One good thing is the exchange rate, which has helped people who want to buy in euros."
Driftin’ Coffee Bar Restaurant owner Jimmy Li plans to rejig his menu after being hurt by the decline in Japanese tourists.
"We’ve noticed even with the tourists we do have they aren’t spending as much," he said.
"We’ll be changing a few things, mainly with some more Asian food."
Tourism Tropical North Queensland chairman Stephen Olle said the group was working on flight and accommodation packages for Australian visitors.
"We saw at Christmas that Australians were still prepared to spend so that’s a good sign," he said.
"The tourism industry here is very resilient."
Splash Seafood Restaurant owner Malcolm McKay said domestic visitors had different needs to
internationals.
"International travellers are often in larger groups but domestic travellers are often more about smaller groups or families," he said.
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Crunch time: Doongal Aboriginal Art Gallery manager Nava Wahl says people are spending less on art, so she has shifted her focus to smaller paintings and gifts. Pictures: JAKE NOWAKOWSKI
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