Darren Rudd, the new CEO of The Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA), is reassuring agents that AFTA has not fallen back in its earnest and constructive lobbying of government, at all levels, for ongoing support for travel agents and the wider travel sector.
“AFTA is proud to be part of a critical collaboration between industry and Government, working on how best to restart tourism, hospitality and events,” Rudd says.
“The successful collaboration across a number of key industry sectors with Government that resulted in The Tourism Restart Plan is the best way to protect jobs and businesses while also supporting the Government in protecting lives.
“There’s no doubt that significant challenges exist in getting this balance right. By working together as we have with the Tourism Restart Plan, we have been able to identify a number of realistic steps government can take that will unlock real and immediate benefits for travel agents and travel businesses as well as across tourism, hospitality and events.
“These measures include greater clarity on the triggers for restriction easing and border re-opening; government and health authorities boosting consumer confidence that it’s safe to travel within Australia; and ongoing collaboration on the bold and necessary reforms needed to protect tourism and the important role of travel agents in restarting this critical driver of the national economy.”
The Tourism Restart Taskforce Plan includes a wide range of recommended actions for Government to take immediately and over the medium and long-term including:
• Governments, State, Territory and Federal should continue with restriction easing and border openings unless serious and transparent benchmarks are compromised;
• Governments and Health Authorities need to reinforce it is safe to travel within Australia;
• Establishment of a Trans-Tasman bubble in July 2020;
• Government must clarify the conditions which need to be met for country to country travel to reopen and ensure sufficient lead times to enable travel to commence efficiently;
• JobKeeper or similar be extended for those businesses directly impacted by government restrictions or completely shut down;
• Government consider a reprieve in demand dampening charges including the Passenger Movement Charge and FBT on travel/entertainment;
• Businesses need the support of insurers and their underwriters to offer the certainty that insurance provides at an affordable price.
