Volcano impact: Fallout settling on city

Kim Waters
The economic fallout from Iceland’s volcanic eruption has reached as far as Geelong, according to the region’s tourism boss.
Geelong Otway Tourism executive director Roger Grant called on local operators to waive “no-show” charges on intending tourists and visitors stuck in airports overseas.
Mr Grant said mass flight cancellations and travel delays in the aftermath of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano eruption would have long-term impacts on the region’s tourism industry.
An international forum planned for Geelong would probably be the first local victim, he said.
The forum was intended to provide international participants with information and education to help them direct overseas holidaymakers to the region.
Mr Grant expected organiser to delay or cancel the event following the major disruptions to airports across Europe, United Kingdom and Australia.
“Hundreds of Australian specialists come out to this event and our tourism experts train them up on how best to sell the area.”
“It’s a huge event that’s only hosted in our area once every five or six years.
“The implications of an event like this being cancelled will be pretty long lasting and I fear will impact the area quite a lot.”
Mr Grant said Geelong Otway Tourism had encouraged the region’s tourism operators to waive fees and charges on helpless visitors who were unable to show up for reservations and bookings.
“This situation is an act of God, so travel insurance won’t cover it.
“Europe and the United Kingdom are one of our major source markets and we do quite well out of them. We’d hope that by waiving the fee we’re showing an act of goodwill that would encourage overseas visitors to rebook their trips.”
An ash cloud stretched over skies from Europe to the United Kingdom following the volcanic eruption last Thursday.
The cloud prompted airports to close many flights amid fears the ash could bring down airliners.
London’s Heathrow airport and three-quarters of Europe’s airspace partially re-opened earlier this week but less than half of scheduled flights were operating.