22 September Covid Inquiry must consider lockdowns and international travel ban September 22, 2023 By Amanda Rixon Media Release 0 ATIA will also be including a call in our submission for the review to look at the substantial issues in Austrade’s handling of the distribution of Consumer Travel Support Grant funds of $270 Million. Australia’s travel agents and businesses experienced massive revenue falls of 95% plus on the closure of Australia’s international border on 20 March 2020 Travel businesses spent COVID with no income due to international travel shutdown chasing $10Billion in credits and refunds on behalf of their customers A third of our workforce, 15,000 jobs, were lost while the complexity of chasing refunds was massively increased The on-going open/shut of state borders further added significant burden Travel is still recovering. ATIA’s submission to the Senate Committee Inquiry into Bilateral Air Service Agreements noted that international fares are still massively elevated. Flights from Sydney for example are still up to 99% higher than pre-COVID, due to a lack of competition and capacity. Quotes attributable to ATIA CEO Dean long “The terms of the inquiry are a good starting point but we ask that the Government expand the terms of reference to consider the biggest source of impact on our sector – border closures and lockdowns.” “Australia deserves a unified national approach and the review, in looking at what worked and what didn’t, needs to look at those decisions that had the most significant impact on people’s lives which was the restriction of movement. That needs to be front and centre of any review.” “Speak to any travel agent or business still operating today and they have a war story about the multiple complex problems in Austrade’s management of the Consumer Travel Support Grant funds from design to implementation. The process for so many of our members was frustrating and and the approach not fit-for-the purpose. Austrade has done a review but hasn’t released it. That needs to be considered by this review as there’s absolutely no doubt that there are lessons to be learnt from the processes and approach adopted by the government of the day and the department at the time.” Related Articles Travel has a new home – the Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) The Australian Travel Industry has a new peak industry body representing travel agents and advisors, tour operators, consolidators and wholesalers replacing the Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA) effective today. ATIA Welcomes Key Recommendations in COVID-19 Response Inquiry Report to Strengthen Future Crisis Preparedness The Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) welcomes the release of the Federal Government’s COVID-19 Response Inquiry Report, which presents critical recommendations to strengthen Australia’s resilience and preparedness for future pandemics. AFTA’s Women in Travel Summit now sold out Tickets to the highly anticipated Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA) Women in Travel Summit (March 13) have now sold out. NTIA Most Outstanding Travel Journalist Award With all the Finalists for the travel and trade categories now announced, the spotlight shifts to the next phase of the National Travel Industry Awards (NTIA) — recognition of Australia’s Most Outstanding Travel Journalist ATIA tells Senate inquiry a revolution is needed With international fares from Sydney in 2023 up to 99% higher than pre-COVID, and a lack of competition and capacity, the Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) has told the Senate Committee Inquiry into Bilateral Air Service Agreements a revolution rather than a recalibration of Australia’s aviation industry is needed to ensure consumers are better supported. NTIA Finalists for Most Outstanding Travel Journalist published Finalists for the Most Outstanding Travel Journalist Award have been announced as part of the 2024 National Travel Industry Awards (NTIA). Showing 0 Comment Comments are closed.