Fire-affected tourism businesses in Australia will receive almost 500 million kronor in financial support, the country's government has announced.

The industry has lost several billion kronor due to the fires.

”Tourism is the lifeblood of so many communities in Australia and it is imperative that we help bring visitors back to those communities,” says Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham.

The tourism industry makes up three percent of the country's economy. The 76 million Australian dollars, equivalent to nearly 500 million kronor, will go to rebuild an industry that has lost assets and crucial income when record-breaking fires ravaged southeastern Australia - in the middle of the country's most important tourist season.

So far, the industry is estimated to have lost the equivalent of around SEK 6.5 billion – a figure that could grow to almost SEK 30 billion by the end of the year, according to representatives of the country's tourism industry.

International tourists have been reluctant to book trips to Australia as the fires spread. Bookings from key countries have fallen by 30 to 40 percent, according to Birmingham. At the same time, 70 percent of domestic tourists have canceled their trips, according to Australian media.

In recent days, many of the fire-stricken areas have received much-needed rain, which has reduced the number of fires. However, 69 fires are still burning in New South Wales and 14 in Victoria, with several still out of control.

28 people have so far died in the fires, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

Source: TT