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25 May 2021
Tourism Minister Dan Tehan has provided an update on just how much moolah has been paid out to travel agents as part of the federal government’s COVID-19 Consumer Travel Support Program.
The federal government has committed $258 million in direct support to agents through the program and, according to the latest data, $118.1 million has been paid so far.
A total of $98.6 million in grant funding has been paid under round one, with 2,964 agents having received payments and another 172 claims still being processed, according to a media release issued by Minister Tehan on Monday.
Under round two, $19.5 million in grant funding has been paid to 945 agents.
14 May 2021
The Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO) has urged the federal government to create a clear roadmap for the reopening of the country’s international border, along with financial certainty to the travel supply sector.
CATO members are responsible for over $5 billion in future travel credits currently held with overseas suppliers, and the organisation has warned that without its members, these funds could be lost, with devastating consequences for Aussie travel agents and travellers.
And while roughly half of CATO’s members now offer some domestic product, the volumes are not sufficient to guarantee business survival, according to managing director Brett Jardine.
03 May 2021
Australian travel agents, inbound tour operators and wholesalers can now apply to access an additional $130 million in support from the federal government.
The second round of the COVID-19 Consumer Travel Support Program opened today, which brings the total direct support for agents to $258 million.
The extra assistance is part of the government’s
The COVID-19 Consumer Travel Support Program provides eligible agents, inbound tour operators and wholesalers with a one-off payment of up to $100,000.
Key changes under round two of the program include simplifying the assessment and payment process for businesses eligible for a second payment under the program extension, increasing the minimum grant amount from $1,500 to $7,500 and reducing the number of turnover tiers used to calculate payments from 41 to nine.