Tourism leader confident Queensland will reopen to vaccinated Victorians as promised

The former boss of Tourism Australia says he’s confident Queensland will reopen to fully vaccinated people from COVID-19 hotspots as promised in December.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says fully vaccinated travellers from Victoria and NSW will be able to enter Queensland without quarantining from December 17, provided they get a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of travel.

Chief executive of Experience Co and former boss of Tourism Australia, John O’Sullivan, says he believes Ms Palaszczuk will go ahead with her reopening plan.

ROSS: “Is Queensland really going to open up if we’re 4000 a day and they’re none a day?”

MR O’SULLIVAN: “That’s what the Premier said … and we as an industry take her on her word.”

Mr O’Sullivan says the return of travellers is important to every Australian economy, but it’s especially important for Queensland.

“It’s one of the biggest industries in the state,” he told Ross and Russel.

“It’s one of the biggest employers … particularly destinations like Cairns and Port Douglas.

“Half the jobs that are in the towns are directly associated with the industry and then pretty much every job in the town has some form of connection indirectly.”

Press PLAY below to hear Mr O’Sullivan’s thoughts on Queensland’s plan to reopen to travellers