Australian Tourism Industry Council's Simon Westaway says the tourism sector needs a multi-million dollar "recovery package" amid the coronavirus fallout, similar to what was offered to bushfire victims.
Chinese visitors represent a disproportionate number of tourists; of the 9.3 million visitors to Australia in 2019, 1.4 million were from China.
Earlier this month the government barred anyone arriving from China, excluding permanent residents and their direct family from entry to Australia to stop the spread of coronavirus.
Mr Westaway told Sky News the tourism sector was "hit very hard" by the travel ban and would require a recovery package similar to what was offered following the bushfire disaster.
The government allocated $76 million to help communities and wildlife recover from the bushfire crisis.
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