(TAN): The bushfires that have damaged Australia’s pristine nature and ample wildlife, are expected to cause major damage to its tourism industry too, reports said.
Authorities have reportedly shut down hundreds of national parks, evacuated towns and cancelled concerts after smoke engulfed entire cities, and made air unbreathable and unhealthy. Around 200 fires are still burning in Victoria and New South Wales (NSW), as per reports.
Reports said while fires have destroyed some of the country’s most crucial tourism regions including the New South Wales south coast and East Gippsland in Victoria, several species such as koalas and flying foxes have been killed. At least 10 people have reportedly died in the fires in the past week.
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According to reports, the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) had declared a catastrophe in 236 postcodes across four states comprising areas on the east coast between Gippsland and Gold Coast since November 8. ICA reportedly said 4,299 claims valued at around AUD 297 million (USD 206.5 million approximately) were lodged, although numbers could go up upon more assessments in the future.
Further damages to the sector were made after international visitors were scared off by images of the fires that were shown on television and social media platforms, according to reports. Fires burning near the world heritage site of the Blue Mountains in NSW state reportedly deterred tourists – the train and cable network of Scenic World in the Blue Mountains saw 50% less tourists in December compared to last year.
Vacationer numbers dwindled after visitors alerted others of the situation, reports said.
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“They told people not to come in and it’s affected everything, from restaurants to motels to backpackers to cafes. The streets are empty,” a receptionist at the Blue Mountains Backpacker Hostel in Katoomba, Stacy Reynolds, was quoted by Reuters as saying.
Guest numbers in Sydney hotels went down 10% in December, reports said.
“The fires and the smoke have had a real brand and reputational damage in Sydney,” Dean Long, Chief Executive of the Accommodation Association of Australia was quoted by Reuters as saying.
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United States Embassy officials reportedly advised tourists on the south coast of NSW to leave owing to “extreme fire danger” over the weekend, as per reports. Australian authorities also urged visitors and residents to vacate national parks and tourist areas on NSW’s south coast.
