The Federal Government has confirmed it will continue to work with peak industry body, the Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA) on how best to support Australia’s Travel Sector, with ongoing discussions on AFTA’s request for the Travel Sector Skills Retention and Recovery Package.
AFTA has confirmed that it will continue working alongside the Federal Government, rallying assistance for the hard-hit travel and tourism sectors.
Mr Tehan is consulting with AFTA and the broader tourism sector about support to ensure Australia’s COVID-19 recovery.
“Our Government is working with AFTA to ensure we retain the necessary people and skills in Australia’s travel sector to support travelling Australians and the management of the estimated $6 billion in consumer travel credits,” the Hon Dan Tehan MP, Minister for Tourism said.
AFTA says it thanks Minister for Tourism, the Hon Dan Tehan MP, and the Morrison Government for their ongoing support.
Australia’s travel agents and businesses have been in hard lockdown economically for close to 700 days due to international travel and cruising representing the bulk of revenue for most agencies.
With international travelling only normalising in the second half of 2022, these two financial quarters are the toughest the sector has ever faced.
These travel agents and businesses have been helping Australians manage up to $6 Billion in credits for COVID-impacted travel and this, on top of the complexities of travelling in COVID-times, means more and more Australians are relying more heavily on their travel professionals than ever before.
A survey of AFTA members shows revenue for Jan 22 is down 96% from Jan 30, compounding the 80% decline experienced in FY21.
On average 51% of all travel businesses’ work is assisting clients to use travel credits for COVID-affected travel.
“These next two quarters will be the toughest for Australia’s Travel Sector yet and we will only start seeing revenue benefit flow after international travel normalises,” said Dean Long, CEO of AFTA.
“Over 70% of all international travel out of Australia pre-COVID was booked through an Australian travel retailer and we know the complexities of travel in COVID-time mean the reliance on Australia’s travel professionals will climb as international travel returns to normal.”
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