Travel Industry Rise Up 2022 to highlight ongoing crisis.
Belle Goldie, a travel agency owner from Western Sydney, is garnering support from the industry for a rally early next month urging the Government to recognise the continuing pressures imposed due to policies around the COVID-19 pandemic. She has penned this open letter to the industry inviting attendance at the event – for more details contact belle@itravelpenrith.com.au.
2021 has seen a rollercoaster of emotions for many of us in the travel industry.
This has been due to the ongoing travel restrictions in place for almost two years, and specifically the recent extension of the International Travel and Cruise ban.
We were told by Greg Hunt we’d be cruising by Christmas. Instead in just the past two weeks we’ve been blindsided by this arbitrary two month extension, and also told there would be no further sector support. This is disgraceful and frankly, un-Australian!
Greg Hunt then committed to review the ban on Jan 17 2022, but we believe the Government has no interest in putting this on the table for proper review next month, nor in months to come. The States are likewise sitting with their heads in the sand too. Not good enough.
We believe this travel ban will be extended and pushed out until after the Federal election.
This would have a completely devastating impact on every business that is part of the travel eco-system and associated industries that many of us rely on to survive.
We all know the value we provide and the care we take in helping Aussies travel safely, both locally and abroad.
But those in Government haven’t heard our message loudly enough yet.
So the time has come to take a stand. To rise up and show we cannot survive any longer while this international travel and cruise ban is in place.
What can you do to support this? You are thinking it’s bigger than you and I. Well it is, but together we can make one hell of an impact and show just how much this amazing industry means to us all and that we are not going down without a fight. The time to rise up is now!
We are calling on business owners and employees from right across the travel industry to come together as one and have our voices heard. It’s time to hear from the agents, the tour operators, the suppliers, the transfer companies, the produce providers, the entertainers, the accommodation providers and everyone else who’s been impacted by these rolling bans.
Sydney Travel Industry RISE UP Event
When : Sunday 09th January 2022 11am (to be confirmed)
Where : Overseas Passenger Terminal Circular Quay
Dress Attire: Wear all black
There is also a Rally planned for our Brisbane counterparts a fortnight later so hold tight and save the date – 23rd January 2022, at Brisbane’s brand new state of the art Cruise Terminal that is currently gathering cobwebs.
One Message – Remove the International Travel and Cruise Ban Now
Many Voices – Make Yours Heard
We’ll monitor the case numbers leading up to the event and provide any updates. More to follow in the New Year.