Tourism sector ‘assured’ of govt help

The Australian tourism sector seems confident that the federal government will continue to receive support beyond the end of the JobKeeper coronavirus payment this month.

The Tourism & Transport Forum is currently still discussing a “soon to be completed targeted aid package to support these sectors beyond JobKeeper”.

Margy Osmond, CEO of TTF, referred to briefings in recent weeks with Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Minister of Commerce, Tourism and Investment Dan Tehan.

“We are confident that our concerns and potential support options will be carefully examined at this critical point,” said Ms. Osmond.

The sector has previously advocated expanding JobKeeper for the tourism and aviation market.

The TTF released a heat map study on Monday showing that more than 34 percent of the country’s tourism hotspots had seen a 40 percent or more drop in visitor numbers in the year through September due to the pandemic.

The decline in visitor numbers in the rest of Australia was between 10 and 40 percent, according to research collected by Stafford Strategy for the TFF.

“Almost every corner of Australia, from Inner Melbourne to Broome and from South Australia to North Queensland, is still affected by the pain of this sharp and persistent drop in visitors,” said Ms. Osmond.

The tourism sector has been hit by the collapse of international visitors since the pandemic began.

While domestic tourism has helped fill some gaps, it is not enough, the sector argues.

Ms. Osmond also reiterated a TFF call for states and territories to keep their borders open so as not to suppress the emerging interstate tourism.

The JobKeeper payment to companies that helps them retain workers during COVID-19 is due to be completed by the end of the month.

There are concerns that many workers in a number of sectors, particularly tourism, could be queued for the unemployed.

Meanwhile, Minister for Social Services Anne Ruston noted on Monday that a number of social security benefits will be increased from March 20 in line with indexation agreements.

The JobSeeker payment increases by up to $ 5.10 every two weeks, including the energy surcharge.

Mr Frydenberg is believed to be in North Queensland on Monday.