Call for Feedback from the Events Industry
Meetings & Events Australia recently met with the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Senator Simon Birmingham, along with Austrade and tourism industry leaders to be briefed on the federal government’s response to the Novel Coronavirus outbreak.
Senator Birmingham confirmed that all federal government departments and agencies are working together to ensure that the general public is kept informed and the Government is taking a cautionary approach based on the latest medical advice.
The government’s Chief Medical Officer, Professor Brendan Murphy, has issued some early advice and guidance on managing concerns over the Coronavirus for tourism operators. The advice includes:
- guests who are well but may be incubating the virus should isolate themselves in their hotel rooms for 14 days
- practical information for your staff on engaging with guests who are well, but are in isolation
- the importance of guests in isolation seeking medical advice if they become ill
- accessing further information on this emerging situation at www.health.gov.au.
The Department of Health has developed two fact sheets - for Hotels and Hotel Staff and Hotel Guests.
CALL FOR INDUSTRY FEEDBACK
Both the bushfires and the coronavirus will seriously impact the tourism industry, affecting domestic and international travel. The events industry will similarly be affected.
There have been stories of cancellations across Australia from venues, hotels and tourism attractions.
Robyn Johnson, CEO of MEA has called on the event industry to provide feedback to MEA on any business that has either been cancelled or postponed and the potential loss of revenue that this represent. Ms Johnson commented, “It is important the industry has up-to-date information to inform our governments how the fires and the coronavirus have impacted our industry, and so that we can best represent our members”.
Please send your response to MEA CEO, Robyn Johnson, at [email protected]. All information will be kept confidential and will only be used collectively in order to create a snapshot for government.