Potential economic implications for regional tourism of a foot and mouth disease outbreak in North Queensland

Smorfitt, D.B., Harrison, S.R., and Herbohn, J.L. (2005) Potential economic implications for regional tourism of a foot and mouth disease outbreak in North Queensland. Tourism Economics, 11 (3). pp. 411-430.

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Abstract

International and domestic tourism are sensitive to disastrous events which make areas inaccessible to visitors, less attractive or more dangerous. One form of tourism disaster is the outbreak of an exotic disease, of which Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is a prime case. It is now well documented that the 2001 FMD outbreak in the UK had a greater impact on tourism than on agriculture. It has been estimated than an FMD outbreak in Australia would impose a cost of about $13 million. The impact on tourism would be highly dependent on the extent and duration of an FMD outbreak, as well as on any management and containment restrictions imposed by the authorities in their attempt to control and eventually eradicate the disease. Public perception and thus the provision of accurate information and the way in which the media report disasters will also play an important role in determining the impact on the tourism industry. The economy of Tropical North Queensland relies heavily on international visitors, and an FMD outbreak in the region would impose a large cost to the regional economy, conservatively estimated here to be of the order of $200 million per year.

Item ID: 7171
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1354-8166
Keywords: Australia; feral animals; feral pigs; foot and mouth disease; North Queensland; tourism impact
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Date Deposited: 15 Mar 2010 05:10
FoR Codes: 05 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 0502 Environmental Science and Management > 050204 Environmental Impact Assessment @ 100%
SEO Codes: 90 COMMERCIAL SERVICES AND TOURISM > 9003 Tourism > 900301 Economic Issues in Tourism @ 100%
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