"But also it opens up the accommodation for other people that may want to take it."
The Gold Coast and North Queensland are set to be among the worst-hit areas, with some operators reporting a third of their bookings have been cancelled. Gold Coast QT Hotel General Manager Steven Oakley said he'd seen some New South Wales bookings leave due to the"Bookings are still coming through so please, local drive market, remember us, we're still here on the coast."Queensland shut its borders to anyone from Greater Sydney on Monday until at least January 8 due to the growing outbreak.
Police are monitoring road entry checkpoints into the state, with all visitors required to have a border declaration pass."We're talking hundreds of millions of dollars, there's no doubt about it," Queensland Tourism Industry Council CEO Daniel Gschwind said. "It has sapped our confidence just in the lead up to Christmas and just when we were really rebuilding the industry."