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The federal budget’s spending and forecasts are built on some far-reaching assumptions about when international travel will resume and the vaccine rollout will be completed.
The budget assumes inbound and outbound international travel will “remain low through to mid-2022”, even if the vaccine rollout finishes by the end of this year.
They are two significant expectations that have significant consequences for businesses reliant on the flow of international arrivals for their staff and customers.
How certain are the dates?
The budget assumes that the whole Australian population will be vaccinated by the end of the year and that international borders will start to operate by mid-next year. However, those dates don’t appear to be definite.
Date Time
Tourism support will fall short without open borders
The single most important outcome for the tourism, hospitality and accommodation industries after tonight’s Federal Budget is a commitment to reopening Australia.
“It is vital for the Government to begin a staged opening as soon as possible, given the stimulus measures announced tonight. Businesses need certainty and this is especially important after state border lockdowns battered the sector in 2020-21. The sector hinges on a firm commitment to international restart, from generating demand to accessing skills,’ Australian Chamber-Tourism Chair, John Hart said.
“We welcome the $94.6 million extension to the Zoos and Aquariums package and the Consumer Travel Support Program and acknowledge the much-needed funding provided to Tourism Australia to continue to undertake their important work on the international and domestic campaign activity. Holiday Here This Year is vital to the survival of tourism operators wh
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Tourism minister Dan Tehan has just confirmed that another AUD 128 million (USD 128 million) will be available to assist travel industry businesses dealing with the ongoing closure of Australia’s international borders.
The funding is part of a AUD 1.2 billion (0.93 billion) package which also includes the underwriting of 800,000 half-price domestic flights to specified regional destinations, as well as government-backed loan guarantees for small and medium businesses. The loan programme is accessible for businesses turning over up to AUD 250 million which have accessed JobKeeper this quarter and enables borrowings of up to AUD 5 million with a 10-year term and a two year repayment holiday. “We are backing businesses that back themselves,” Tehan said.
Sydney trade show gets huge boost; win-win for the jewellery industry Posted February 26, 2021 | By Arabella Roden ⢠Editor The International Jewellery & Watch Fair (IJWF), set to take place in Sydney in August, has been approved for the federal government’s Business Events Grants (BEG) program.
The progam means jewellery and watch suppliers participating at the IJWF will qualify for grants to cover the costs of attending the event. This is fantastic news for the jewellery industry. It will help kick-start suppliers and retailers to get back to the vibrant and exciting industry that it is
Gary Fitz-Roy, Expertise Events
BEG was created by the federal government to support the events and exhibition industry, including the tourism sector, by funding Australian businesses to participate at pre-approved events – including trade shows, conferences, and conventions – from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021.