Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
The Morrison Government will provide an additional $130 million to support travel agents.
Our Government has now committed $258 million to support travel agents through the COVID-19 Consumer Travel Support Program, this is on top of the 800,000 discounted airfares provided via the $1.2 billion aviation and tourism support package as well as access to JobSeeker.
Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Dan Tehan said applications for Round 2 of the program were now open to provide further support for eligible travel agents, inbound tour operators and tour wholesalers.
“Our Government is finalising payments under Round One of the program valued at $128 million, which has supported around 3000 travel agents who continue to service their customers, including by providing refunds and credits for Australians whose travel has been impacted by state border lockdowns and the closure of international borders,” Mr Tehan said.
Travel agents out in the cold with half-price airfares
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The Morrison government’s much-hyped half-price airfare scheme led to an uptick in bookings for airlines and accommodation providers but failed to create a trickle-down effect that would help travel agents stay afloat.
While half-price airfares to places like the Whitsundays (pictured) have lifted airlines and hotels, travel agents are seeing little benefit.
This was even after a second stage of taxpayer-funded help to the sector was flagged.
Australian Federation of Travel Agents chairman Tom Manwaring said 20 per cent or under of an average agency’s revenue would come from domestic travel, with the vast majority of it reliant on international trips.
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Tickets to and from 13 holiday hotspots will be subsidised by the federal government from April until July 31
To get their half-price tickets, Australians simply need to head to the Qantas, Jetstar or Virgin websites
The scheme is part of a bail-out package for the crippled tourism sector which employs 611,000 Australians
The government will also offer companies who are still using JobKeeper a 10-year loan of up to $5million