Businesses previously deemed ineligible for grants support due to high turnover now invited to reapply.
AFTA has just detailed an outcome of its ongoing negotiations with Austrade to refine the implementation of the Federal Government’s COVID-19 Consumer Travel Support Program, with confirmation that businesses which had previously reported TTV in excess of $20 million in the “G1” section of the Business Activity Statement should now be eligible, as long as their GST turnover complies.
An update from AFTA to its members says these businesses should advise tourism@austrade.gov.au of their interest in applying, with all eligible claims to be considered regardless of the program close date next Saturday, 13 March 2021.
The Federation also confirmed that it will once again begin levying membership fees after the one-off suspension in 2020, assuring members that the AFTA Board and leadership “have and will continue to put in place the measures necessary to safeguard the organisation through the multiple challenges created by COVID”.
In particular this means AFTA will become an “extremely lean organisation,” with some restructuring changes in the team to be revealed shortly.
Lobbying continues, with CEO Darren Rudd discussing a range of options post-JobKeeper with Tourism Minister Dan Tehan last week. The Federation noted that like the rest of the industry “we are all desperate to understand when the announcement will be made on additional support”.
More details in tomorrow’s Travel Daily.