Accommodation Association CEO Dean Long says the hotel sector was disappointed in the federal government’s announcement for cheap flights to select locations across Australia.
Mr Long said the industry relied on both international and local visitors and said 70 per cent of visitors to CBD hotels were international tourists and there will be additional job losses when JobKeeper ends.
“Unfortunately now we’re going to have to let them go because there’s not enough in this for our capital cities and our professionals in the Australian accommodation sector,” he told Sky News host Peta Credlin.
Around 800,000 half-price airline tickets are being made available as part of a $1.2 billion tourism support package unveiled by the federal government, but there are a few things you should know before you try to book.
11 Mar 2021
After much anticipation, the federal government has finally released the details of its new $1.2 billion support package for Australia’s tourism industry.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that while Australia’s economy had recovered 85 per cent of its fall from COVID-19, the next step in the government’s National Economic Recovery Plan would target the businesses, workers and regions still doing it tough.
Morrison said the package’s mix of half-price airline tickets, cheap loans for businesses and direct support to keep planes in the air, and airline workers in their jobs, would be a bridge to a more normal way of life for Aussies.
22 Feb 2021
New support has been announced for small businesses, including sole traders, most impacted by Victoria’s recent ‘circuit-breaker action’.
New $200 vouchers for travel in regional Victoria and Melbourne are being introduced to further bolster tourism businesses and workers, while licenced venues and accommodation businesses will receive dedicated new assistance.
The $143 million Circuit Breaker Support Package is expected to help more than 50,000 Victorian businesses, including restaurants and accommodation providers, who incurred costs during the snap five-day lockdown.
The package contains four initiatives targeted at businesses, including small and micro-businesses.
The new $92 million Business Costs Assistance Program will offer grants of $2,000 for eligible employing and non-employing businesses in the hospitality, food wholesaling, tourism, events, and selected retail industries.