AFTA says its #MeetYourMP campaign has continued over recent weeks with 5 meetings held in the past week and 22 meetings locked in place as AFTA members share their reality and need for support with federal Parliamentarians.
The 5 attended and 22 upcoming #MeetYourMP meetings are in addition to the direct lobbying the AFTA Board and team continue to undertake on a daily basis as part of what has been a two-year fight for ongoing support for the sector.
These briefings continue AFTA’s campaign over the past two years to make sure that federal Parliamentarians and decision-makers understand the devastating impact of international travel bans due to COVID and related restrictions on Australia’s travel professionals.
With a third of the sector’s workforce lost as a result of the economic fallout, and with reliance from travelling Australians on the rise including in relation to the up to $6 Billion in credits for COVID-impacted travel, AFTA and members continue to make the need for ongoing support until international travel normalises which won’t be before late 2022.
Meetings in the last week alone have included briefings of Pat Conaghan, Anne Stanley, Gladys Lui, Emma McBride, Kate Thwaites, and Angie Bell.
The current asks include the distribution of the outstanding $74 million approved for the sector as part of the $258 million COVID-19 Consumer Travel Support Program.
The news from Friday’s National Cabinet that it “noted positive progress by the eastern states and the cruise industry to develop appropriate health protocols and common guidelines to support a safe return to cruising in their jurisdictions over the coming months” is welcome sentiment but lacking the detail the sector needs to start planning.
AFTA says it encourages the Government at all levels to commit to a date so that necessary planning can commence.
Alongside the Federal advocacy, AFTA has also continued our State and Territory advocacy and has now met with all State and Territory Ministers responsible for Consumer Affairs apart from South Australia.
“Given travelling Australians need travel professionals now more than ever, given our members are important contributors within local communities, and given the significant economic contribution Travel makes to the Australian economy including in supporting Australia’s inbound Tourism sector, Government support is a no-brainer,” said AFTA CEO, Dean Long.
For more information, visit www.afta.com.au.