The Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) has welcomed the federal government’s stimulus funding package designed to address the impacts of the coronavirus on the Australian economy.
“ATEC is pleased the government is making a solid commitment to sustaining the tourism industry in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak,” ATEC Managing Director Peter Shelley said.
“We have been greatly concerned by the impact the contraction in international travel will have on tourism’s future - we just can’t afford to lose the important distribution channels currently in place. We are particularly happy with the commitment to support businesses where there has been a supply-chain breakdown as a result of the virus outbreak.
“Despite the bushfires and subsequent Covid-19 crisis, the industry has been doing what it can to keep the doors open - this is a dire time and the industry needs every bit of support it can get.”
Business grants would go a long way to encouraging capable tourism exporters to invest in new markets.
ATEC said it stands ready to ramp up support programmes for the industry, using its existing learning and development platform to deliver meaningful benefits for export tourism businesses across the country. Many of these programmes are available via an online learning platform and can reach regional businesses.
Training programmes available for immediate action include:
- Industry training programmes designed to arm businesses with an understanding of the China, Japan and India markets with a focus on distribution, experience and product development
- Virtual Trade Shows to allow businesses to continue building relationships in order to re-engage trade quickly post Covid-19
- International Ready training to move domestic tourism product towards export which can be driven throughout the tourism regions.
“Now is the time for action and ATEC looks forward to working with the government in quickly delivering programmes to Australia’s tourism industry which can help to put it back on its feet.”
