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AFTA push for support to reinforce the critical importance of travel experts

The Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA) says the immediate and widespread global impact of the new COVID variant, Omicron, on travel is just the latest opportunity to reinforce the critical importance of travel experts and the need for ongoing government support of the sector.

The Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA) says the immediate and widespread global impact of the new COVID variant, Omicron, on travel is just the latest opportunity to reinforce the critical importance of travel experts and the need for ongoing government support of the sector.

AFTA Chair Tom Manwaring and CEO Dean Long were in Canberra last Friday for high-level briefings with Government including Deputy Prime Minister the Hon Barnaby Joyce, National Party Ministers and Members of Parliament including long-standing sector champion the Member for Cowper Pat Conaghan.
 
The face-to-face meetings provided the key insights to cement AFTA’s approach to secure additional support for members. The Government’s priorities are now on skills and workforce renewal and AFTA’s advocacy has been updated to reflect this. 

AFTA

“The domino effect of border closures for Australia and across the world as a result of the Omicron variant is the greatest impact on our clients confidence since March 2020. This is directly impacting you by increasing your work for in most cases no additional revenue,” said AFTA CEO Dean Long.
 
“The speed of Governments’ decisions to lock out travellers with less than 12 hours notice is for many of our clients another reason to postpone travel.

“In Canberra last week, Tom Manwaring and I briefed the Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce and members of the National Party as well as our regular engagement with Tourism Minister Dan Tehan. 

AFTA

“During the last six months, AFTA has continued to push the critical and urgent need for ongoing support until at least mid-22. We have deliberately held back on our public lobbying until we better understood the Government’s election focus.
 
“While we know this has been frustrating for members, for our Sector to have the best chance at getting additional support, we need to be playing on the same field as Government. This is why we have held back on our grassroots activation in recent weeks – we needed to make sure that we have the most impact possible,” AFTA CEO Dean Long continued.
 
“It now clear that sector support is no longer the preferred approach by the Government, and this includes Round 3. The Government’s primary focus is revising the Australian economy through skills and workforce development. We must pivot to advocate on this issue and ensure the Travel Sector receives additional support.
 
“Our ask is for a support package of an additional $130M plus any remaining funds which we understand is around $60M from the COVID-19 Consumer Travel Support Grant program. Our focus will be funding for a skills retention and attraction package for retention of skilled employees and attracting new employees.

AFTA says it will provide members with an updated toolkit to drive these critical conversations with local Federal Members of Parliament.

Click here for more information.

Click here to access the updated National Mobilisation Campaign Toolkit.

Images: AFTA CEO Dean Long and Chair Tom Manwaring in Canberra last week with Deputy Prime Minister the Hon Barnaby Joyce, Member for Cowper Pat Conaghan and The Hon. Michael McCormack Member for Riverina.