Australia is experiencing the worst year for tourism since the 1989 pilots’ strike; with the $90 billion-a-year industry has crashed.

That is the sentiment of almost half of Australia’s tourism leaders according to a survey which reveals their despair amidst the worsening crisis.

Three months ago, according to the Tourism and Transport Forum/Mastercard survey, Australian operators believed that a sustained recovery would occur in the first quarter of 2010.

Latest tourism forecasts now predict inbound visits and domestic tourism will drop by a further 4 percent for 2009 and only 45 percent of tourism operators believe that a recover is at least a year away.

The collapse in business confidence and predictions of a $2 billion-plus drop in tourism spending as prompted calls for a $40 million government bailout.

The results showed the job outlook for staff had stabilised.

Fewer businesses in the latest survey indicated they would cut staff, down from 56 per cent to 32 per cent.

And while almost 60 per cent said they would make job cuts at some point during the economic downturn, the figure was down from 72 per cent in the previous quarter.

However, the survey showed small increases in confidence across domestic, international and total tourism.

Thanks to The Age.  For more information visit theage.com.au