ATEC continues to highlight that tourism regions are struggling to survive

August 13, 2021

The Australian Tourism Export Council highlights that months of lockdowns, border closures, cancellations and uncertainty has left tourism businesses, including a significant number in critical tourism regions, on the edge of collapse and desperately in need of a lifeline.

Across Australia, regardless of local restrictions, tourism businesses have been battling to stay afloat as circumstances change day by day and visitor markets get locked out of travel.

ATEC Managing Director Peter Shelley notes “this is a dire situation and the future of Australia’s tourism industry is truly at risk.

“Each time we've moved out of lockdowns, tourism businesses have reopened their doors and got back to doing what they love, but the stop-start situation has become extreme and many businesses have depleted their funds making it impossible to kick off anymore reopenings without financial support.

“These businesses are critical economic drivers for their regions and provide an enormous amount of employment and flow on economic benefit for the communities where they are based.

“Without these businesses, many hundreds of communities across rural and regional Australia will be facing a long term downturn in their economic security as people move out of the area to find work.”

Shelley said tourism businesses urgently need support from all levels of government in order to keep skilled labour in these regions and ensure they are able to not only reopen, but to be sustainable and grow as we move out of the COVID crisis.

Shelley adds “the impact and urgent need for support in tourism regions has been highlighted by agencies such as Tourism Tropical North Queensland who can see the road ahead and the business which will fall off the cliff without a government lifeline and we support their call for wage support.

“This is a short-term measure which will provide long term security for our tourism regions and we call on all governments to take action to protect the future of our industry and the communities they support.”

For more information on ATEC go to atec.net.au/

Image: ATEC Major Member - Featherdale Wildlife Park in NSW

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19th October 2020 - ATEC expands its program supporting Australian tourism exporters to attract domestic visitors

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27th September 2020 - ATEC concerned over lack of government funding to support inbound tour operators

21st September 2020 - ATEC aligns with WTTC Safe Travel protocols

23rd June 2020 - ATEC warns domestic travel not a simple fix for Australia’s tourism industry

13th May 2020 - ATEC highlights the harsh reality of a tourism industry in crisis

30th April 2020 - ATEC part of new Tourism Restart Taskforce to strengthen industry COVID-19 response

22nd April 2020 - ATEC considers diverse and competitive airlines to be critical to Australian tourism

6th March 2020 - ATEC highlights the ongoing threat of Coronavirus to export tourism industry

2nd March 2020 - ATEC remembers tourism innovator James Kwan

17th January 2020 - ATEC emphasises the need for positive messages to international tourists

28th November 2019 - ATEC recognises outstanding industry achievements for 2019

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