Insurance might not be the first thing you associate with tourism, but for many operators, public liability insurance has become a crippling barrier to growth.
Former Queensland Government tourism investment specialist Fiona Antonucci is determined to change that. Backed by an Austrade–Griffith University industry scholarship, her PhD research is building an evidence base to help businesses, industry and government tackle rising insurance costs and limited access.
This work aligns directly with the Australian Government’s THRIVE 2030 vision—its national strategy for a resilient and sustainable visitor economy.
“I am driven by delivering policy and projects that contribute to Australia’s sustainable economic future. Working with passionate entrepreneurs creating visitor destinations and experiences has been hugely fulfilling.”
Why insurance matters for tourism’s future
Public liability insurance protects businesses in extreme cases—from serious injury to emotional distress. But without affordable cover, many tourism providers are scaling back, restructuring, or shutting down entirely.
“This research highlights that insurance affordability impacts the growth and development of the visitor economy, including the production and supply of visitor experiences,” Fiona explains. “Efforts to reduce insurance costs can position Australia for future prosperity and competitiveness.”
At the Australian Regional Tourism Conference 2024, Fiona shared how prohibitive premiums are already threatening regional tourism. Industry reports support her findings: the Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) has documented cases of premiums skyrocketing from $2,000 in 2018 to more than $75,000 today.
A system under strain
Now in her second year of research, Fiona works with Griffith’s Professor Sarah Gardiner, Professor Basak Denizci Guillet and Professor George Verikios, combining document analysis, industry interviews and a national survey.
Her research to date shows:
- Public liability insurance is failing as a risk-transfer mechanism for tourism.
- Operators face a shrinking pool of insurance providers.
- High costs are directly constraining innovation and growth.
- Australia’s complex injury compensation framework is a key driver of premiums.
- Festivals and adventure operators, in particular, face the harshest impacts.
Looking across the Tasman for inspiration
New Zealand offers a potential alternative. Its no-fault accident compensation system has enabled both accessible healthcare and adventurous tourism experiences without excessive insurance premiums.
“A myriad of authentic agritourism and adventure experiences led me to discover that New Zealand really was a healing place, in some part due to their approach to accidents,” Fiona reflects.
She acknowledges such sweeping reform would be challenging in Australia, but believes pragmatic changes to improve affordability and certainty for businesses are urgently needed.
The personal story behind the research
For Fiona, this research is more than academic.
From her Sunshine Coast cattle farm, which she runs with her husband and three children, she combines academic inquiry with lived experience. Her husband grew up in the United States, where his family’s home and restaurant burned down—without insurance. The devastation left a lifelong impression.
During COVID-19, Fiona worked as an economic development manager, fielding desperate calls from tourism operators forced to cancel insurance to cut costs. “As the world started to re-emerge, visitor experience providers were hit with a new challenge—limited or no access to affordable public liability insurance,” she recalls.
Shaping national policy: what’s next?
As Fiona nears completion of her doctorate, she hopes her work will influence national policy and industry practice, helping ensure Australia’s visitor economy remains globally competitive.
Possible solutions emerging from her research include:
- Encouraging a robust and innovative insurance market.
- Supporting new visitor experiences and workforce opportunities.
- Exploring legislative reform to address the prohibitive costs of injury compensation.
Whether her next chapter lies in government, academia or the private sector, Fiona is determined to apply her insights to strengthen Australia’s visitor economy.
“Being able to contribute to the development and economic sustainability of an industry that is centred around sharing and creating experiences, happiness and ultimately core memories, is what drives me.”
The Griffith Institute for Tourism (GIFT) is Australia’s leading tourism research institute, recognised globally for its expertise. PhD scholars like Fiona Antonucci, alongside Griffith’s team of world-class researchers, work with industry, government and communities to tackle critical challenges. We welcome opportunities to collaborate with organisations of all sizes to deliver impactful outcomes for Australia’s visitor economy. For more information, visit the GIFT website.
