With Easter and school holidays fast approaching, SMEs operating in Australia’s beleaguered travel and tourism sectors can prepare for a rush of hundreds of thousands of tourists as part of a new $1.2 billion support package from the Morrison Government.
The package includes 800,000 half-price airfares to get Australians travelling and supporting tourism operators, businesses, travel agents, and airlines available from 1 April 2021.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said while Australia’s economy had recovered 85% of its fall from COVID-19, the next step in the recovery plan would target hotels and caravan parks, restaurants and bars, travel agents and tour operators in regions still doing it tough.
The Prime Minister said, “This is our ticket to recovery – 800,000 half-price airfares to get Australians travelling and supporting tourism operators, businesses, travel agents and airlines who continue to do it tough through COVID-19, while our international borders remain closed.
“This package will take more tourists to our hotels and cafes, taking tours and exploring our backyard. That means more jobs and investment for the tourism and aviation sectors as Australia heads towards winning our fight against COVID-19 and the restrictions that have hurt so many businesses.
“Our tourism businesses don’t want to rely on government support forever. They want their tourists back. This package, combined with our vaccine roll-out which is gathering pace, is part of our National Economic Recovery Plan and the bridge that will help get them back to normal trading.”
The new Tourism Aviation Network Support (TANS) Program will give Australians clear incentives to travel to crucial domestic tourism areas, said Cameron Poolman, CEO OnDeck Australia.
“The cut-price flights will be a tremendous support for all kinds of SMEs in strategic tourism hubs across Australia, and particularly for hospitality and accommodation operators and their suppliers,” said Cameron.
The half-price ticket program will initially operate to 13 key regions, including the Gold Coast, Cairns, the Whitsundays and Mackay region (Proserpine and Hamilton Island), the Sunshine Coast, Lasseter and Alice Springs, Launceston, Devonport and Burnie, Broome, Avalon, Merimbula, and Kangaroo Island.
Flights, routes, and the total number of tickets will be driven by demand and are subject to final discussions with the airlines.
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