Simon Birmingham to unveil $128 million in travel agent industry support.
Federal Minister for Trade, Tourism and Finance, Simon Birmingham, has tonight confirmed details of one-off payments to travel agents of up to $100,000, in recognition that they are “operating in an exceptional set of circumstances where most are having to refund last year’s income while continuing to work with no additional income”.
The total funding package of $128 million will offer scaled payments of $1,500 for those at the low end with annual turnovers of $50,000, through to a maximum of $100,000 for those turning over up to $20 million a year.
“Providing further assistance to travel agents in the current environment will help keep them afloat at a time when they are continuing to hold travel credits for consumers who have previously cancelled travel,” Birmingham told The Australian.
AFTA CEO Darren Rudd is said to be “delighted” at the outcome, with the package set to ensure the travel industry will be able to survive through the pandemic to assist people “with the new world of COVID-safe travel”.
More details in tomorrow’s issue of Travel Daily.