Sorry Folks, Looks Like International Tours Are Off The Table Till At Least 2021
Thanks, coronavirus.
With the general easing of social distancing restrictions and Australia’s success when it comes to flattening the curve of coronavirus, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the music industry might be returning to some kind of normalcy soon.
But according to Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham, as reported by Music Feeds, the border looks to remain closed to international tours for at least another year.
“I do sadly think that in terms of open tourist-related travel in or out of Australia, that remains quite some distance off,” Birmingham announced to a gathering of reporters at the National Press Club.
“Just because of the practicalities of the volumes that are involved and the need for us to first and foremost keep putting health first.”
When Birmingham was specifically asked about a date for international touring, he confirmed it was likely we wouldn’t see such easing till next year.
Of course, that will have a massive impact on Australian music festivals. In the past, festivals have required big name international artists in order to stay afloat and sell enough tickets. The result of no international touring will probably be that festivals are much smaller, in order to keep costs down.
Which is not to say that it will be a year till festivals return — after all, Falls Festival have already promised to push ahead towards the end of 2020. It just means that when they do return, they’ll be very different.
Photo Credit: Mikki Gomez/Music Junkee