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Give agents the support they deserve: AFTA mobilises members for action

The Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA) is again harnessing the power of its members with the next stage in its lobbying for more ongoing government support.

The Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA) is again harnessing the power of its members with the next stage in its lobbying for more ongoing government support.

AFTA will continue to lobby the government to assist the travel industry during nationwide lockdowns and border closures.

The ask is ongoing support including through an additional $130 Million Round 3 of the COVID-19 Consumer Travel Support Program or implementation of a Travel Disaster Relief Package based on the East Coast business support program currently running.

AFTA and its members are also calling for wider support until international travel resumes including through the inclusion in the Grants program of previously excluded businesses and support for multi-outlet businesses.

“Australia’s travel agents and businesses have been in hard lockdown since March 2020 and will be after Australia’s international border re-opens – we are Australia’s most heavily-impacted sector,” said Tom Manwaring, AFTA Chair.

Darren-Rudd-Dan-Tehan-and-Tom-Manwaring
Darren Rudd (Former AFTA CEO), Dan Tehan and Tom Manwaring

“We note the Prime Minister’s continuing commitment to supporting those sectors most impacted by COVID. Travel was the first hit and will be the last to recover. A third of the experienced professionals, predominantly women, working in our sector have lost their jobs.”

“We thank the Government and Federal Tourism Minister the Hon Dan Tehan for the $258 Million COVID-19 Consumer Travel Support Program received to date, but we need ongoing support to protect the remaining 25,000 jobs and 3000 business so we can keep supporting consumers,” Tom Manwaring said.

The National Mobilisation Campaign will continue to expand over the coming weeks to incorporate lobbying at a State and Territory level as well as ongoing Federal engagement.

The AFTA Mobilisation Toolkit is available to Members on the AFTA website