IGEM Report 1: 2017-18 - THE CYCLONE DEBBIE REVIEW

The Cyclone Debbie Review

Much of the planning worked. After strong messaging and weather alerts, many tourists cancelled bookings. Local tourism businesses made attempts to inform those who had pre-booked and to deter travel to the area. In Airlie Beach, on the advice of local tourism operators and emergency services, tourists with access to their own transport self-evacuated. Some tourists staying on the islands managed to change their flights departing Hamilton Island. This contributed to the lower occupancy rates at the time. However, some tourists had already left their departure points, unaware of the unfolding situation. These people from interstate and international locations, some of whom did not speak English, were looking forward to a holiday, and were likely to have been unaware of the possibility of evacuation within 24 hours of arriving. Others still remained in the path of the cyclone, looking for support and answers about where to go, where to buy food as shops closed, where they could wash, charge their phones and, critically, where they could go to feel and be safe, all in a place that was foreign to them. Tourism operators told us about aspects of evacuation where further consideration is needed: • where tourists should relocate to, if told to evacuate, and how they should get there, and • the management of new arrivals after the cyclone had crossed. On the first point of relocation, we heard conflicting views. Tourism operators believed, from advice they received, that cyclone shelters and subsequent evacuation centres were only for use by local residents evacuated from the storm tide zones, and not available to tourists. Local government, while not encouraging their use, said they were open to tourists and, indeed, looked after some during the event. The status of the evacuation prior to arrival may have contributed to the misunderstanding. Confusion over the type of evacuation that took place during Debbie endures among local accommodation providers. Tourism operators thought they were being directed to evacuate their guests and wanted to know where to, and who ultimately was responsible for them. Police, acting according to legislation, say they were passing on advice about a voluntary evacuation and were not in a position to tell them. The State’s Key Messaging of 27 March reported evacuations directed by local groups. On the second point, of arrivals after Debbie, we heard strong views from the tourism sector. There was insufficient accommodation for these people and no electricity, nor water, in some places. The town of Airlie Beach was at this point an estimated 3,000 beds short, and the situation was about to be further compounded by fly-in response and recovery workers. Few shops were open and local businesses and families did whatever they could. Local residents opened up their homes to tourists, and we heard of reports that some backpackers were left with no option but to sleep in the street. We are aware of the conflicting pressures of needing to be “open for business” and for the time to recover. In 2002 work to develop the Emergency Management on Offshore Island Resorts; Cyclone and Storm Surge Preparation and Response training package for the tourism sector recognised the same issue. To give time for recovery, there is a need to keep tourists away, at least for the first few days. That relies on reaching the providers of travel services, often based some distance away. Powers exist under disaster declarations to control or regulate the movement of persons. They may be an ultimate sanction, but a tourism-wide negotiated approach would seem a better way to prevent this from occurring in future events.

Themes

Recommendation A strategy should be developed between the key tourism and transport operators, and local and state government. It should address the arrival of visitors and tourists after a disaster, and should ensure that their arrival matches communities’ needs for recovery and return to normal business. The Department of Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and the Commonwealth Games should monitor its implementation. Finding The arrival of tourists and other visitors immediately after a disaster, inhibited recovery effort and potentially reflected badly on Queensland’s tourist reputation. Return of tourists as early as possible to holiday areas is however essential to sustained recovery.

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6 THEMES

EVACUATION: Decisions • Effects on tourism