Queensland border due to reopen July 10, but Redlanders prefer to stay local

The Australian Federation of Travel Agents welcomed the Queensland government's decision to reopen borders, however Redland travel agents had little to celebrate.

AFTA CEO Darren Rudd said it was a step in the right direction which struck the right balance between the necessary caution and getting the economy restarted.

Director of Helloworld Travel in Capalaba Suraj Arachchige said 60 per cent of his income came from international travel with only 20 per cent of his clients booking domestic holidays.

"I think a lot of people are putting off travelling as they are uncertain about the restrictions and quarantine. People are travelling local but are hesitant about crossing over the border," he said.

Mr Arachchige said he had not noticed a spike in domestic travel and was currently dealing with client cancellations and refunds.

Wellington Point travel manager Amanda Brady said most of her clients were inquiring about travel within Queensland and to Norfolk Island.

"I expect this to expand to the rest of the country as our domestic borders open and flights schedules increase," she said.

Ms Brady said people were keen to get away when it was safe to do so.

Travel Associate's Anna Burgdorf was pleased her clients could travel again.

"We have had strong interest in domestic travel and the majority of our bookings are for travel locally - but for interstate travel there's no doubt that Queensland is always the favourite state at this time of year with clients looking to escape the colder states especially around school holidays," she said.

Ms Burgdorf said there was no doubt tourism had been incredibly impacted by COVID-19.

"We are busy at the moment, working with our clients to rebook travel and arrange refunds where necessary."

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner had encouraged families to stay local and support south-east Queensland businesses for the school holidays.

Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation chief executive Cameron Costello said North Stradbroke Island usually saw a large number of local visitors so would be less affected by borders re-opening than other areas of Queensland.

"The majority of Minjerribah Camping is from south-east Queensland, so it's people who are from Brisbane who bring their families over and have been doing it for generations," he said.

"There is a percentage of interstate visitors but we've been very cautious about reopening the island, let alone the borders."

He said the borders reopening would definitely have an impact on businesses generally across the island.

"But for us the closed borders have meant that Queenslanders have been holidaying at home. They can't go to Byron, so where are they going to go? They come over and see us," Mr Costello said.