As Noosa faces the busiest time of the year, Tourism Noosa is pleading with the Queensland Government to drop the 7 day quarantine requirements for ‘close contacts’.
Despite the announcement from the Queensland Government yesterday reducing from 14 days down to 7 days, this quarantine time is crippling businesses with several venues in Noosa already being forced to close down because they are deemed as ‘close contacts’.
Local restauranteur Matt Sinclair from Sum Yung Guys issued a heartbreaking video yesterday morning announcing their forced closure for 7 days with 25 of the team now in isolation three days before Christmas.
Sum Yung Guys is not the only venue in Noosa that is facing closures with several other venues having had to close under the current mandates.
This is compounded by the critical issue of the scarcity of available staff that is facing Noosa and much of Australia.
A concerned Noosa accommodation provider, David Langdon from Aspire Property Management and Holiday Specialists stated if accommodation providers are forced to be closed for 7 days being deemed as a close contact, how are guests arriving in Noosa able to collect keys and check in to their accommodation. “This is just one example of the domino effects of this mandate,” he said.
“With borders now open, reality is COVID is now part of our existence. We cannot cripple businesses with these draconian measures.”
Sue Willis, Managing Director of Niche Luxury Holidays has drafted a petition in support of Noosa businesses, and the livelihoods of their staff and their families, potentially affected by these mandates. To view see chng.it/k6xPkjTxRs
“The outdated mandates for businesses is unsustainable now that we are in an open border environment. Additionally tourism towns such as Noosa are struggling under the weight of PCR testing for visitors. Long line-ups and fatigued front line staff do not provide a welcoming environment for visitors to escape,” she said.
Tourism Noosa calls on the Queensland Government to immediately review and change the current draconian mandates if it wants the economy, and the tourism industry to survive.
