AFTA UPDATE

From Dean Long, CEO

YESTERDAY we saw the release of the census data showing some interesting social trends which are positive for the travel sector and explained why the recovery has been faster than most predicted.

With nearly 50% of the country with family connections less than two generations old, our need and desire to travel is more than just leisure.

Most of our businesses have seen the early recovery, being underpinned by the VFR segment.

While agents and airlines do well from the VFR market, it’s our tour operators, ITO’s and hotels who don’t see the same positive uptick.

This new data will be included in our advocacy agenda moving forward, demonstrating the importance of travel to the community at large. In the first sitting period in Jul, AFTA will be back in Canberra meeting with the newly elected members of Parliament on the need for our workforce package. In the next two weeks, our Taskforce to address the workforce challenges will meet to develop the final elements of our policy including defining the skills gap we currently have, number of vacancies we currently have and identifying what our future needs will be.

What is clear from the census data and current demand, is that the travel sector plays an ever-increasing role in connecting families and communities. With changing schedules of airlines due to COVID, illness and general staff shortages, it has put pressure on our workforce to keep people travelling.

I am also pleased to advise that ATAS, is seeing strong renewal rates with the majority of entities’ accreditation expiring at the end of this month. This year our compliance checks are focused on the solvency and protection of client funds, which is essential for consumers and trade partners to have confidence in the sector’s largest and most representative scheme.

Lastly, I was thrilled to be with Greg McJarrow from Singapore Airlines to announce that SQ was the new major sponsor for the National Travel Industry Awards (NTIA).

The NTIAs is the industry’s night of nights and having a partner in SQ is an exciting new chapter for these awards.