Lockdowns might have stymied the recovery of Australia’s domestic travel industry right now, but a quick look at the data for the first half of this year shows what lies ahead when most Aussies are vaccinated and lockdowns are in the past.
Before the Delta variant struck, research company GlobalData predicted Australian domestic travel would rebound to 93.8 million trips in 2021, returning to 80.4 percent of the level of pre-Covid trips in 2019. But since July 1, lockdowns have covered most of NSW and Canberra and restrictions have been imposed in most of the rest of the country.
GlobalData believes there is evidence from earlier this year that Aussies were keen to escape their homes – a finding backed up by Lisa Pagotto, of Crooked Compass, who told TradeSquare that many Australians are desperate to travel, “and they have the money because they aren't doing the big Europe and America trips that they would normally do”.
Writing in Hotel Management magazine, BWH Hotel Group Australasia MD, Graham Perry, predicts the regional accommodation boom will endure long after borders reopen and Covid has passed.
“Australians have woken up to what they have in their backyard and the domestic tourism honeymoon will continue,” wrote Perry. “Regional Australia will be the major beneficiary with … tourists looking for new experiences beyond capital cities.”
In the northern hemisphere, high vaccination rates are underpinning a travel recovery, suggesting the same will happen here.
Get ready for the rush
So what should you do to prepare for the return of domestic travellers when the restrictions ease again? TradeSquare has three tips:
- If you have the resources, now is a great time to invest in upgrading your rooms and common area facilities – not costly renovations, but small investments that will help give your property a fresh look when the guests return, items like bedding, reception furnishings, in-room amenities, tablewares and manchester. TradeSquare has wholesale vendors offering exceptional deals on goods ranging from electric kettles and flat screen TVs through to towels, bedding, rugs and art.
Make a plan for shelf-stable goods you’ll need when things are back to normal. Items for rooms that turn over quickly such as bathroom amenities, condiments and other grocery items. Take a look at the sorts of products available on TradeSquare and compare prices with your existing suppliers. Remember, you can source from multiple vendors in a single transaction on TradeSquare and most buyers can take advantage of Zip’s Buy Now, Pay Later service, spreading payments over three months, to ease cashflow.
Review your back-of-office supplies and the equipment you have. TradeSquare has a full range of stationery and office machinery along with bulk cleaning supplies and other products – all at wholesale prices.
By sourcing supplies on TradeSquare, you’ll be helping fellow Australian companies who have been struggling to maintain business as usual during the Covid crisis. All vendors on TradeSquare are Australian-registered businesses.
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