After devastating fire followed by global pandemic, the ongoing recovery of Binna Burra Lodge in Queensland, Australia wasn’t possible without the power and value of goodwill, an intangible asset that manifested as ‘solidarity tourism’. It's Steve Noakes' first “GoodTourism” Insight.
On September 8, 2019, at the beginning of six months of what became known as Australia’s ‘Black Summer’ bushfires, the historic Binna Burra Lodge and pioneer cabins (built in the 1930s) were destroyed. They took with them the jobs of 60 staff, most of whom had to be retrenched, as well as 4,000 forward bookings, most of which had to be refunded.
Offices, computers, phone lines, and most records were destroyed. The business was gone. But suppliers still needed their invoices paid. Terminated staff had to be paid out their individual entitlements. Even the tax office demanded its scheduled payments.
And despite the online and offline media bombardment that had to be managed, it still took about six months to get the single road access through the World Heritage-listed Lamington National Park restored before the demolition and rebuilding work could even start.
At the time of the disaster, the immediate response and recovery phases were paramount. For a tourism enterprise, recovery from such a disaster is not a short-term process. It requires many years of engagement, financial support, and encouraging customers to return.
Compounding the struggle ... For the full "GT" Insight, please visit https://goodtourismblog.com/2021/05/from-the-ashes-the-role-of-solidarity-in-binna-burras-tourism-recovery/