Avalon CEO says international flights back in 2022

TOURISM and transport operators have overwhelmingly welcomed news Australia will lift its international border ban on February 21, but are cautioning that it will take years to rebuild the sector.

“Becoming international in the first place was very hard, to do it all over again will take some time,” said Avalon CEO Justin Giddings, describing it as a medium to longer term project.

Prior to the pandemic flight routes to Bali and Kuala Lumpur had been established and an MoU had been signed with VietJet to fly to Vietnam but all ceased when the airport closed international flights in March 2020.

“We are ready to take airlines as soon as they are able to organise schedules, we don’t have a time frame yet, but hopefully as soon as possible,” Mr Giddings said.

“It’s going to take a bit of effort for these airlines to be encouraged to get the confidence to come back to Australia after two years of absence.

“The industry has changed a lot, some airlines have gone out of business, so they’re doing it tough, obviously.

“At the moment we’re just flying domestic to Sydney and the Gold Coast but I’m very confident we’ll see international services operating this year.

“I’m continuing to work with airlines, have had two already contact me today. But that will be up to my successor and team to take that forward,” added Mr Giddings, who recently announced he would be stepping down from the role of Avalon CEO.

While welcoming the announcement, Mr Giddings believes it is belated.

“I think before Christmas would’ve been good, and even special travel such as international students so they could make arrangements for this term, preferably to Deakin.”

Regional tourism lobbies are similarly buoyed by the news but similarly note that it will take years to rekindle a sector that lost one of its largest customer bases two years ago.

“We’ll start activating now, but it will take time to rebuild these markets, really it could take til 2024 to start seeing pre-pandemic numbers,” general anager of Great Ocean Road Tourism Liz Price said.

As the most visited region outside of Melbourne “the Surf Coast is very conscious of international travel. Having a date will provide industry with optimism and allow operators to reactivate international markets that have been dormant, some of them – like China – since 2019,” said Ms Price.

Pre pandemic visitation rates for the Great Ocean Road were around 1.2 million people a year, 800,000-900,000 of those were day trippers and 270,000 would stay overnight.

Tourism Greater Geelong and the Bellarine also welcomed the news, “A sign of positivity for tourism operators” executive director Brett Ince said, pointing to multiple positive knock-on effects.

“We can welcome international carriers back to Avalon such as Air Asia … Geelong and the Bellarine especially has a significant amount of expats overseas, being able to reconnect with friends and family in our region is welcomed by our community.”

It’s also a “green light for international events” according to Mr Ince, noting that events such the Avalon International Airshow, Cadel Evans bike race and Rip Curl Pro rely on having overseas competitors and acts in the mix.

As the tourism sector welcomes back those from overseas, Ms Price suggested focus should also be given to opportunities “as we rebuild to build back differently, and target markets that are going to stay longer and explore more of the region”.

Mr Giddings is also eyeing benefits for the region, citing the nearly half a million people who passed through Avalon Airport in 2019.

“That’s a significant amount of money going into local economy, such a catalyst for growth. It really will give the Geelong region a magnificent boost, particularly if it manages to expand.”