from the Australian Federation of Travel Agents AFTA UPDATE

KIA Ora trans-Tasman corridor! How good is it to see people heading off overseas again. While it’s a welcome “first bubble” and a start which will help with process learnings, the reality is that the earnings impact for the vast majority of our members, while positive, is limited in scale.

AFTA is writing to both the Australian and NZ Governments to highlight the importance of keeping the corridor open unless there is a significant outbreak. We also continue to press the case for more corridors sooner rather than later.

Getting the majority of Australians vaccinated is central to this in boosting confidence in support of travel bookings in the last quarter of 2021 for the 2022 holidays.

A huge thank you to all of our members who recently completed our important chargeback survey.

Your participation provides much needed hard data support and greatly strengthens our case. We are currently compiling a report for Government and the RBA.

The hard work continues in supporting Austrade in identifying and smoothing out the allocations to allow for a smooth deployment of round 2 of the Federal Government’s Consumer Traveller Support program which has also continued to be a priority for the AFTA Board and team. Federal Tourism Minister the Hon Dan Tehan has been highly engaged and supportive and we thank him and his office for this. We continue to press the case in Canberra for ongoing support above and beyond the $258 million already secured as part of the Grants program.

AFTA will be attending key Federal Budget events in Canberra as part of this ongoing campaign.

As part of this advocacy for ongoing support and relief measures, we also continue to brief key organisations including Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Bilson, ACCC and the RBA amongst others.

Our ongoing engagement with State and Territory Governments also continues.

AFTA also is proactively engaging with mainstream media both directly and via our members.

Now more than ever consumers need the help of experienced, dedicated travel professionals and AFTA is determined to make sure that is heard loud and clear.