AFTA to continue to push for industry support package.
The Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA) has welcomed ongoing business support measures outlined by Treasurer Josh Frydenberg in this evening’s Federal Budget, despite the apparent failure of AFTA’s bid for $125 million in sector-specific funding.
One of the measures in the budget allows current losses to be carried back and offset against previous years, which was a “key recommendation in the AFTA pre-Budget submission,” the Federation said.
“We also support the increased investment in mental health including suicide prevention, critical for so many sectors in these incredibly difficult times,” according to AFTA’s formal Budget response tonight.
AFTA CEO Darren Rudd said the Budget contained a number of innovative measures for small businesses which should provide relief to travel agents, tour wholesalers and operators, but noted that these businesses would only be able to recover after international travel is possible once again.
“We are currently examining the details of the wider Budget and its impact on the industry, and continue to work with the Government closely on developing a sector-specific package,” Rudd said.
The Budget is based on assumptions that a population-wide Australian COVID-19 vaccination program will be fully in place by late 2021, while “inbound and outbound international travel is expected to remain low through the latter part of 2021, after which a gradual recovery in international tourism is also assumed to occur”.
Rudd said “we will continue to do whatever it takes to persuade our political leaders of the pressing need to help the sector”.
More details in tomorrow’s issue of Travel Daily.