Showing posts with label tourism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tourism. Show all posts

Wednesday 10 January 2024

Lismore City - life is bouncing back

 

A month short of two years after Lismore City made national and international news for all the wrong reasons - a record breaking climate change-induced flood in a region being devastated by widespread unnatural disaster - it is back in the news in a happy and upbeat way.


 ECHO, 9 January 2024:


Lismore has been named as one of the world’s ‘Coolest Places to visit in 2024’ by the Qantas magazine.


The town was listed alongside New York, Shanghai, London and Venice as one of the world’s 25 must-see tourist destinations.







Acting Mayor Jeri Hall said it was a humbling but not surprising accolade which spoke to the renowned experiences Lismore offered through its vibrant arts and culture scene, and stunning natural environment.


I was not surprised to see Lismore up there with some of the world’s most popular destinations,’ Acting Mayor Hall said.


Lismore is becoming more and more vibrant with its ever-evolving dining scene, creative arts, culture and unique venues offering everything from live music to theatre and performance.


Lismore City recently hosted thousands of festival goers from right across the country who travelled here specifically for the legendary Tropical Fruits New Year’s Eve Festival. They all left with smiles on their faces and plans to return.’......


Friday 21 January 2022

A brief look at projections and forecasts for six aspects of the Australian economy in 2021-22 & 2022-23

 

With only a seventeen-week window remaining in which Prime Minister Scott Morrison can first present an early Budget 2022-23 to the Australian Parliament, then dissolve said Parliament, before going on to call a federal general election and run a formal election campaign; sometime soon Coalition Government MPs and senators will have to begin addressing economic issues when out and about in their electorates. 


So perhaps it is time to start looking at projections and forecasts for 2022 made by government departments, financial institutions and industry - before local electioneering hype is raised to such a pitch that facts and considered opinion get lost in the political mêlée. 


Here are six aspects of economic activity which always get a mention in the NSW Northern Rivers region at some time in an election cycle.


CONSUMER CONFIDENCE


ABC News, 18 January 2022:


Consumer confidence slumps


The Omicron COVID-19 variant has hit consumer confidence, according to ANZ and Roy Morgan.


Their measure of consumer confidence fell 7.6 per cent last week to 97.9, the lowest level since October 2020, as Omicron surged across Australia and facilities came under immense strain.


That was lower than during last year's lockdowns when the Delta variant surged.


All the survey's subindices fell including current and future financial conditions.


Nearly one in five respondents expected to be worse off by this time next year.


ANZ head of Australian Economics, David Plank, said the index level of 97.9 was the weakest January result since 1992, when the Australian economy was experiencing rising unemployment.


"The result highlights the concerns about COVID have the potential to significantly impact the economy if they linger," he said.


ANZ said spending had continued to fall because of the spread of Omicron, with a drop of 27 per cent over the first half of January, compared to the first half of December.


Spending was also lower on eating out.


Omicron hit to economy


CBA credit and debit card data indicated that spending has dropped sharply on services over the past few weeks.


Commonwealth Bank economist Gareth Aird said the large number of COVID-19 cases is hurting the employment market, with an estimated 1 million people in isolation, and reduced spending on goods and services.


That means many businesses have been forced to close, or reduce capacity and opening hours.


He has slashed his growth forecast for the first quarter of 2022 from 2.3 per cent to just 1 per cent.


"The next few months are without a shred of doubt going to be difficult and testing for the economy," Mr Aird said.


"Our working assumption is that more policy support will be forthcoming, particularly stimulus that is targeted towards businesses most adversely impacted by the surge in COVID cases and isolation requirements."


Mr Aird said he expected the economy to snap back in the second quarter of 2022.


FINANCE



Australian Government General Government Sector Monthly Financial Statements November 2021, 24 December 2021:



KEY POINTS

  • The Monthly Financial Statements for November 2021 report the budget position against the expected monthly profile for the 2021-22 financial year through to 30 November 2021, based on the 2021-22 Budget estimates published in May 2021.

  • The 2021-22 Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) was released on Thursday, 16 December 2021. Commencing with the December 2021 monthly financial statements, which will be released in January 2022, the budget position will be reported against the expected monthly profile based on the updated estimates outlined in the 2021-22 MYEFO.

  • The November 2021 year to date results include the impact of the Australian Government’s response to COVID-19.

  • The underlying cash balance for the 2021-22 financial year to 30 November 2021 was a deficit of $41.8 billion against the Budget profile deficit of $55.9 billion.

  • The fiscal balance for the 2021-22 financial year to 30 November 2021 was a deficit of $36.0 billion against the Budget profile deficit of $55.2 billion.




Monthly results are generally volatile due to timing differences between revenue and receipts, and expenses and payments. Care needs to be taken when comparing monthly or cumulative data across years and to full-year estimates, as revenue and receipts and expenses and payments vary from month to month.


FISCAL OUTCOMES


Underlying Cash Balance

The underlying cash balance for the financial year to 30 November 2021 was a deficit of $41.8 billion, which is $14.1 billion lower than the 2021-22 Budget profile deficit of $55.9 billion.


  • Receipts

Total receipts were $34.3 billion higher than the 2021-22 Budget profile.

  • Payments

Total payments were $20.2 billion higher than the 2021-22 Budget profile.


Net Operating Balance

The net operating balance for the financial year to 30 November 2021 was a deficit of $35.5 billion, which is $17.8 billion lower than the 2021-22 Budget profile deficit of $53.4 billion. The difference results from higher than expected revenue, partially offset by higher than expected expenses.


Fiscal Balance

The fiscal balance for the financial year to 30 November 2021 was a deficit of $36.0 billion, which is $19.3 billion lower than the 2021-22 Budget profile deficit of $55.2 billion. The difference results from higher than expected revenue and lower than expected net capital investment, partially offset by higher expenses.


Assets and Liabilities

As at 30 November 2021:

  • net worth is negative $743.5 billion;

  • net debt is $607.3 billion; and

  • net financial liabilities are $987.2 billion.


MINING SECTOR


Office of the Chief Economist, Resources and Energy Quarterly December 2021, excerpt:

















Australia’s resource and energy exports are estimated to reach a record $379 billion in 2021–22, up from $310 billion in 2020–21. In 2022–23, export earnings are then forecast to decline back to $311 billion, as commodity prices settle lower.


The global recovery remains underway, sustained by the ongoing rollout of COVID-19 vaccines and continued fiscal and monetary support across major economies. However, new outbreaks (and variants) of the pandemic across many regions are inhibiting a full global recovery, as are supply chain blockages — including shortages of semi-conductor chips and of shipping containers in some locations.


China’s power shortages have been a dominant influence on global resource and energy commodity prices in recent months. As a major global metal refiner, the power shortages have seen Chinese (base and ferrous) metal output cut back. China’s property sector has slowed noticeably since our last report, cutting metal usage. However, the Chinese authorities now appear to be taking steps to stabilise the sector.


New policy developments are also impacting the global resources and energy sector. In October, China’s government instructed the nation’s coal miners to lift output and imposed a thermal coal price cap, following critical shortages. In November, the US Congress passed a US$1.2 trillion infrastructure program, which will have a stimulatory effect on economic growth domestically and have flow-on effects offshore.


A stronger outlook for base metals and coal is expected to more than offset the impact on export earnings of the downward adjustment we have made to our iron ore price forecasts. Lithium exports are expected to overtake zinc exports in 2022–23 as car makers race to capture the electric vehicle market.


With energy inventories lower than normal, the severity of the remainder of the Northern Hemisphere winter will have a critical influence on energy markets in the short term. The La Niña weather pattern will likely impact on the demand and supply for coal and other energy products.


The risks to the record export earnings forecast for 2021–22 are skewed to the downside. They include a much faster than expected decline in coal prices. There is also potential for a further rise in global inflation and a risk of higher interest rates in response. New, vaccine-resistant strains of the coronavirus, and the risk of delays in the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines to the world’s population, could also pose significant risks.


AGRICULTURE


Dept. of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Outlook for Crops, excerpt:


Value of crop production to reach record high in 2021–22


The gross value of crop production is forecast to reach a record $43 billion in 2021–22, driven by record winter crop production and high world grain and oilseed prices. Favourable seasonal conditions across all winter cropping regions, particularly in New South Wales and Western Australia (the two biggest winter crop–producing states) are forecast to result in above average to significantly above average yields. A favourable outlook for increased summer crop production is also contributing to the forecast record. The gross value of all major crop commodities is forecast to reach a record level:

  • wheat – $11.5 billion (record high)

  • barley – $3.4 billion (record high)

  • canola – $5.2 billion (record high)

  • cotton – $3.9 billion (record high)

  • horticulture – $12.5 billion (second highest on record)


Heavy November rainfall has caused flooding in northern and central west New South Wales resulting in production losses for some producers. Although this is not expected to significantly affect tonnage produced, it will affect the value because of a downgrade in quality. Continued high rainfall in December will cause further damage and more total crop losses if crops cannot be harvested.


In other areas across the eastern states and South Australia, wet conditions during harvest and reduced soil nutrient levels caused by 2 years of high yields could reduce grain and oilseeds quality compared with recent years. The extent of these impacts would differ from paddock-to-paddock, and downgrades of wheat protein levels or improvements in the oil content of canola crops could affect the prices that growers receive.


Despite concerns about a resurgence in mice numbers, increased baiting on farms during winter and spring has reduced mice populations in affected regions, and there have been no reports of significant damage to date. They still remain a risk for summer crops in parts of southern Queensland and northern New South Wales. Farm profits could be reduced by high baiting and cleaning costs if mouse numbers remain elevated during summer.


Figure 1.1 Gross value of crop production, 1971–72 to 2021–22


f ABARES forecast.

Sources: ABARES; Australian Bureau of Statistics



Dept. of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Economic overview: December quarter 2021, excerpt:


Exchange rate to remain at current levels


In 2021–22, the Australian exchange rate is assumed to average US74 cents – 1 cent lower than the average for 2020–21. Downward pressure on the exchange rate from falling iron ore prices is expected to be balanced by upward pressure from strengthening economic activity and steep increases in coal and natural gas prices.


Overseas interest rates may move higher over 2022, adding to downward pressure on the Australian dollar if current domestic monetary policy settings remain. Stronger than expected inflation overseas could prompt central banks to bring forward planned rate rises. Australian interest rates are not expected to be lifted in 2021–22. The Reserve Bank of Australia has clearly signalled it will not raise rates unless inflation is sustained in the target range (core inflation of 2 to 3%) and wages growth is ‘materially higher’ than it is at present. Wages growth in Australia remains at less than half the average rate recorded between 2000 and 2010, despite relatively low unemployment.


TOURISM


Do not travel to Australia......

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/australia-travel-advisory.html

















https://www.safetravel.govt.nz/australia


Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Commonwealth of Australia, 7 January 2022:


Notice on China-bound foreign passengers' application of health code Jan-07-2022

2022-01-07 16:05

In order to reduce cross-border transmission of Covid-19, especially considering the latest developments of COVID-19 in Australia, the Embassy and Consulate-Generals of China have made major changes on the application procedures. Passengers who travel on and after 17 January, 2022 are kindly required to read and follow instructions below....



Tourism Australia, International Visitor Survey results September 2021:


Key results


Key results for the year ending September 2021 include:

  • international visitor numbers fell by 98.2% to 155,469

  • international visitor spend was down 97.1% to $1.3 billion

  • visitor nights were down 96.2% to 10.4 million.


Australia’s top 5 markets


Australia’s top 5 international visitor markets saw significant losses:

  • Chinese visitor numbers fell 99.7%. This was a loss of 1.3 million visitors. Spend fell 99.4% or $12.2 billion.

  • New Zealand visitor numbers fell 93.0%. This was a loss of 1.2 million visitors. Spend fell 88.6% or $2.3 billion. New Zealand saw the smallest losses of all markets, recording 89,000 visitors. This was more than half (57%) of all visitors to Australia for the year ending September 2021. This was due to a trans-Tasman bubble opening between the 2 countries during the June quarter 2021.

  • United States of America visitor numbers fell 98.9%. This was a loss of 763,000 visitors. Spend fell 96.4% or $3.9 billion.

  • United Kingdom visitor numbers fell 98.9%. This was a loss of 662,000 visitors. Spend fell 96.3% or $3.2 billion.

  • Japanese visitor numbers fell 99.7%. This was a loss of 454,000 visitors. Spend fell 99.3% or $2.1 billion.


Tourism losses due to COVID-19


Total international and domestic tourism losses since the start of the pandemic in March 2020 reached $128.3 billion.


International tourism saw losses of $62.5 billion for March 2020 to September 2021. This was due to international border closures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.


Over the same period, there were further losses of:

  • $49.8 billion from domestic overnight travel

  • $16.0 billion from domestic day travel.


Note: The only federal government tourism recovery scenarios are dated 2020 and can be found at Australian Trade and Investment Commission, Tourism Research Australia, Tourism Recovery Scenarios.


CLIMATE


Australian climate variability & change - Time series graphs

Australian Bureau of Meteorology












Australian climate variability & change - Trend maps

Australian Bureau of Meteorology


Australian Government Dept. of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources, Quarterly Update of Australia’s National Greenhouse Gas Inventory: June 2021, Incorporating emissions from the NEM up to September 2021, excepts:


On a quarterly basis, national emission levels for the June quarter 2021 increased 0.4% or 0.5 Mt CO2-e on the previous quarter in trend terms. The trend result for the June quarter 2021 reflects small increases across all sectors of the inventory with the exception of the electricity sector which was lower by 0.2% on the March quarter 2021….


On an annual basis, the consumption-based inventory increased 0.4% or 1.8 Mt CO2-e to 420.8 Mt CO2-e in the year to June 2021….


National emissions are preliminarily estimated to be 500 Mt CO2-e in the year to September 2021.












Long term sectoral trends


The most important sectoral drivers of Australia’s long-term emissions trend have been:

Electricity – where emissions have fallen by 22.6% since the year to June 2009 as renewables have displaced coal as a fuel source, reversing the long term increases experienced in earlier

years;

Stationary energy (excluding electricity) – which has shown the largest growth of any sector in percentage terms since 1990. Emissions have increased 50.3% or 33.3 Mt CO2-e driven, in particular, by recent growth in the export of LNG;

Transport – where emissions have increased 48.6% or 29.8 Mt CO2-e since 1990, despite recent volatility due to the impacts of the COVID pandemic;

Fugitives – where emissions have increased 21.3% or 8.6 Mt CO2-e since 1990. Emissions were relatively stable until 2012 but have increased strongly as a result of the growth of the LNG industry;

Agriculture – where emissions have declined by 18.5% or 17.0 Mt CO2-e since 1990, in line with declining cattle and sheep populations; and,

Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) – where emissions have decreased by the largest margin of any sector since 1990 (112.6% or 218.1 Mt CO2-e) due to reductions in land clearing and native forest harvesting, increases in plantations and native vegetation, and improvements in soil carbon.

 

Tuesday 16 March 2021

Live on the NSW North Coast and looking forward to half-priced airfare to a holiday destination this year? Prepare to be disappointed.

 

On 11 March 2021 Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced 800,000 "half-price" airfares to get Australians travelling across 13 key tourism regions, the Gold Coast, Cairns, the Whitsundays and Mackay region (Proserpine and Hamilton Island), the Sunshine Coast, Lasseter and Alice Springs, Launceston, Devonport and Burnie, Broome, Avalon, Merimbula, and Kangaroo Island.


According to Morrison’s media release, the discounts will be off the average fare and will be available on airline websites from 1 April.


This wording suggests that the discount on airfares might not be 50 percent of the price of a ticket.


Media reports suggest that the booking period is four months long, ending on 31 July and it appears the scheme allows flights to be booked as far ahead as December 2021.


However, these discounted fares will only apply to flights out of capital cities according to this breakdown in The Guardian on 11 May 2021:


Thirteen Australian locations are eligible for subsidised half-price flights as part of the government’s push to boost regional tourism. 
Photograph: The Guardian


Sydney: flights to the Gold Coast, Cairns, Proserpine, Hamilton Island, Maroochydore, Uluru, Alice Springs, Launceston, Broome and Avalon.


Melbourne: flights to the Gold Coast, Cairns, Maroochydore, Alice Springs, Uluru, Launceston, Devonport, Burnie, Broome and Merimbula.


Adelaide: flights to the Gold Coast, Maroochydore, Alice Springs and Kangaroo Island.


Brisbane: flights to Alice Springs, Uluru and Launceston.


Darwin: flights to Cairns and Broome.


Perth: flights to Alice Springs.


Avalon: flights to the Gold Coast.


Even if people living in north-east NSW drove to Brisbane, the only destinations they would be offered under Morrison’s scheme are Alice Springs, Uluru and Launceston. If people caught a full-price flight from Ballina Airport to Sydney they would be offered Gold Coast, Cairns, Proserpine, Hamilton Island, Maroochydore, Uluru, Alice Springs, Launceston, Broome and Avalon.


For most there is no hope of using a discounted ticket to holiday with or near family.


As for tourism operators from Clarence Valley to the NSW-Qld border – this scheme offers them nothing.


Wednesday 26 August 2020

Purpose-built artificial reef in Tweed Heads coastal waters likely to be complete this summer


NSWDPI map
Approx. 7.5km south of the Tweed Heads river entrance, situated between Cook Island Nature reserve and Wommin Bay, this purpose-built artificial reef is being installed at a depth of 25 metres.

It is hoped that installation will be complete in time for summer fishing this year. 

Species anticipated to frequent the reef are expected to include Kingfish, Cobia, Trevally, Snapper, Mulloway & Mackerel.

According to NSW Dept. of Primary Industries, the Tweed offshore reef will be the State’s most northern reef complex and is likely to be influenced by subtropical species endemic to Queensland waters.

The artificial reef itself is a 10 metre high conical steel construction surrounded by 32 concrete modules.

Thursday 2 April 2020

Clarence Valley asks day trippers and holiday makers to kindly stay away during 2020 COVID-19 pandemic


The COVID-19 infection has already arrived in the Clarence Valley and now the first case of local transmission has been reported.

Despite this, holiday destinations - particularly on the Clarence Coast - are still seeing day trippers and holiday makers arriving in the valley.

The Daily Examiner, 31 March 2020:


....Last week Clarence Valley Council closed one caravan park and slapped restrictions on four others in an attempt to stop “unnecessary travel” in the area and general manager Ashley Lindsay has told people to stay away.

“We really wish this was the time for holiday-makers in our communities, but unfortunately it is not,” Mr Lindsay said. “We really want you to stay home this year.” 

Council is also asking local real estate agents and Airbnb operators managing holiday rentals to “do the right thing” by discouraging unnecessary domestic travel into the Clarence. 

It is an issue keenly felt in the coastal towns of the Lower Clarence as residents report a steady number of tourists still heading to beaches and towns on the weekends. 

Angourie resident Eden Hage was so concerned he was planning on putting up signs warning people of the dangers of travelling during the current crisis. But someone beat him to it, erecting a sign at Angourie Point – telling people to stay away. 

“People aren’t happy,” he said. Just about everyone I spoke to was flabbergasted at the amount of tourists still coming. 

“It is pretty concerning, especially for the elderly around here and the people that have health issues already. “It is just ignorant and arrogant that people are not taking this seriously.” 

Mr Hage was pleased council had closed or restricted the caravan parks, but he wanted other accommodation businesses to follow their lead to stop the flow of tourists ignoring government advice. 

At the time of print there were more than 150 accommodation listings across the Clarence on Airbnb alone and Mr Hage said it had to stop, either voluntarily or via stricter government measures. 

“It seems ridiculous some people’s incomes are stopping but there are still advertisements for holiday letting,” Mr Hage said. 

“It is just a total disregard and is putting a lot of vulnerable people at risk. 
“The message from the Prime Minister is not getting through. “We need leadership on this because there is a risk of people losing their lives.” The issue has been brought to light across the county in recent weeks as a number of coastal and rural areas receive a number of non-residents opting to wait out the pandemic in more remote locations. 

Airbnb has offered full refunds to those who booked accommodation before March 14 with a check-in date between March 14 to April 14. 

Hosts can also cancel without charge or impact to their superhost status.....

Monday 17 February 2020

Diversity of opinions on NSW North Coast towards the short-term holiday letting sector


Mirage News, 11 February 2020: 

Residents’ views differ widely across the NSW North Coast on the impacts of short-term holiday letting (STHL), according to the results of a Southern Cross University survey.  

Most residents (71%) and approved accommodation providers (64%) favour rental caps for permanently non-hosted investment properties; while just 34% of Airbnb hosts residing in the region support day limits for such properties. There were more than 1,600 responses to the survey. 

The finding is part of research aimed at giving locals a say in decision-making about how to manage short-term holiday letting in the NSW North Coast region. The survey focussed on the area between Tweed and Kyogle in the north to Tea Gardens/Hawks Nest in the south. Residents in 12 council areas were surveyed: Ballina, Bellingen, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Kempsey, Kyogle, Lismore, MidCoast, Nambucca, Port Macquarie-Hastings, Richmond and Tweed. The research follows a similar study by the same Southern Cross University researchers in the Byron Shire in 2018. The project was undertaken in partnership with Destination North Coast. 

Drs Tania von der Heidt, Sabine Muschter, Deborah Che and Rodney Caldicott from the School of Business and Tourism at Southern Cross University spent several months surveying 1,632 residents in the NSW North Coast region, including 320 Airbnb hosts, 169 approved accommodation providers and 1143 other residents. 

Dr Muschter said one significant finding was slightly more than two-thirds of approved accommodation providers and other residents believed caps are needed when the property is without a host – temporarily or permanently. 

“In other words, most residents favour a model involving mandatory on-site management for any short-term holiday letting,” said Dr Muschter. 

The majority of the short-term holiday lettings are listed on online rental platforms, notably Airbnb. Across the 12 council areas Airbnb listings increased 371% over the past three years – from 4,072 at the end of 2016 to 6,456 at the end of 2019. The rate of growth in the 12 council areas has outpaced that of the Byron Shire, which grew by 195% in the same time period, albeit from a higher base. In December 2016 the number of Airbnb properties in Byron (1,172) was already more than three times as high as that of the next biggest tourist destination in the North Coast – Tweed – which had just 289 Airbnb listings at end of 2016. 

Dr von der Heidt said the data suggests the other surveyed council areas are following the Airbnb trend that started in Byron Shire. 

She said the study demonstrated a diverse range of perceptions of the sector with many championing the positive impact to tourism, the local economy and employment, while around half of the respondents highlighted social impacts such as traffic, parking and neighbourhood lifestyle and called for more regulation. 

“While Airbnb hosts did not wish for their operations to be regulated, most approved accommodation providers and other residents want more regulation on short-term holiday letting including adequate reporting avenues to lodge complaints of misconduct, appropriate enforcement of non-compliance, and the introduction of compulsory public liability insurance for guests and third parties,” Dr von der Heidt said. 

According to the latest data from Destination North Coast, the NSW North Coast’s multiple tourist hubs are valued at approximately $12.5 million per day. Even though tourism generates 9.4 per cent of regional jobs and supports 7,000 business, the North Coast faces many tourism pressures, including the burgeoning peer-to-peer accommodation platforms.....

In November 2018, with a view to shaping the implementation anticipated state planning legislation, Clarence Valley Council resolved to submit 
to the NSW Government "an expression of interest in allowing short term rentals for 180 days a year in R2 low density residential coastal areas (Yamba, Iluka, Angourie, Wooloweyah, Brooms Head, Sandon, Wooli, Diggers Camp and Minnie Water) but allowing short-term rentals for 365 days a year in all other residential areas where tourism pressures are not as pronounced and was allowed with a development application previously."

By February 2019 The Daily Examiner was reporting that there were 330 active Airbnb lisitings in the Lower Clarence, with the vast majority being in Yamba.