Tourism

An influenza pandemic in Australia would be unlike any other modern disaster and would create new challenges for communities and businesses that operate within them.

Should an influenza pandemic emerge, the tourism industry is likely to be impacted by temporary measures to prevent its transmission and spread, such as:

• restrictions on travel
• closure of public places
• reduced consumer confidence.

The tourism industry may also be called upon to contribute to the emergency response effort including the housing of stranded foreign nationals and/or health care workers. It is therefore critical that the tourism industry is adequately prepared through effective business continuity planning to respond to an influenza pandemic and equipped with the appropriate knowledge, tools and resources to reduce the impact of this threat on the industry.

Pandemic Planning Tools

The Australian Government has produced the following tools to ensure that, should a pandemic occur the tourism industry is well placed to respond:

• Being Prepared for an Influenza Pandemic - A Kit for Small Businesses provides tools and information for use by small businesses, including those in the tourism sector.
• Being Prepared for a Human Influenza Pandemic - A Business Continuity Guide for Australian Businesses is a comprehensive and practical information and planning tool to assist businesses prepare for a potential pandemic.
• The Prepared and Protected DVD - Special Edition for Australia's Accommodation Sector to help the sector prepare for a potential pandemic. It is also applicable to the broader tourism industry.
• The National Action Plan for Human Influenza Pandemic outlines how commonwealth, state, territory and local governments will work together to protect Australia against the threat of an influenza pandemic and support the Australian community should one occur.
• The Australian Health Management Plan for Pandemic Influenza outlines what the Commonwealth Government, health sector, key stakeholder groups, organisations, the community and individuals can do to prepare for a pandemic.

Avian Influenza

To date there has been no detection of the Avian Influenza virus (H5N1) in Australia and there has been no evidence of efficient human to human spread anywhere in the world.

To find out more please go to our Avian Influenza page.