AFTA UPDATE

from the Australian Federation of Travel Agents

WE HAVE received reports that our members right around Australia are securing meetings with their local federal MPs and we’re seeing this reflected in the media.

In fact, we’d like to share with you an article that was written in The Australian newspaper titled Coronavirus: travel agents facing a long hard road. The article highlights the very real impact that COVID-19 has had on travel businesses, and the long road to recovery - read the full article HERE.

In parallel with our federal focus, we continue to work directly with all the states and territories to secure their support for a range of measures.

Fri’s announcement from the Western Australian Government of its targeted $3 million support package for travel agents is the first of the announcements and additional reinforcement of the collective benefit of working together strategically.

The initial rollout of the program will provide packages of up to $5,000 to eligible WA homebased agents and minimum $10,000 packages to eligible WA bricks-and-mortar businesses.

Applications for the support package open on Fri 02 Oct and close at 5pm on Fri 30 Oct, and the Small Business Development Corporation will contact WA travel agents directly, providing information on how to apply.

This program is in addition to the State Government’s existing COVID-19 support measures for small businesses, such as commercial tenancy laws to protect small businesses from the impacts of the pandemic.

We are clearly starting to have an impact and we need to stay focused and keep the pressure building towards the federal budget on 06 Oct.

Please get on the phone, send that key email to your electorate office, and make that booking for the meeting ahead of 06 Oct. If you don’t ask, they can’t say yes. Please be sure to let us know when this meeting takes place and with who by emailing afta@afta.com.au.

You can access the full mobilisation toolkit which AFTA has prepared to assist you arrange a meeting with your local federal Member of Parliament by CLICKING HERE.