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. 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. 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. Gow-Gates Insurance Broking Group appoints Judith Crompton, Director of Travel Insurance Services Gow-Gates Insurance Broking Group increases its position and activities into Travel Insurance, with the major appointment of Judith Crompton Director, Travel Insurance Services. ATIA continues international work The Australian Travel Industry Association continued its international advocacy and relationship building this week with CEO Dean Long speaking at the prestigious ITB Asia 2023 Conference in Singapore. Passenger Movement Charge increase will see an extra $520M lost out of Travel Sector Budget announcement of $10 hike in Passenger Movement Charge(PMC) disappointing given Travel still on cusp of recovery Increased PMC at $70 for everyone leaving Australia means $1.3Bn generated in total PMC revenue in 24/25 ($420M of which to be spent on Border Management[1]) Growing tax receipts through increased travelling and traveller numbers would have been a better and fairer outcome Showing 0 Comment Comments are closed.