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With state borders largely open, the Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) has advised it is “taking to the road” for a series of face to face discussions with members for the first time in over a year.  This member engagement program will provide first-hand information on the challenges being faced by export tourism businesses across ATEC’s eight state and regional branches.

The first stop on ATEC’s tour is Adelaide on Wednesday 28th April followed by Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sydney, Cairns, Melbourne, Hobart, Perth and Darwin.

The feedback received will contribute to a framework which will identify and recognise the needs of the grass roots of the industry. The feedback will be presented to Tourism Minister Dan Tehan and Shadow Tourism Minister Senator Don Farrell during the Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE) to be held in June.

ATEC Managing Director Peter Shelley notes “over the past 12 months we have been in close contact with our members, supporting them across the most difficult period in 50 years in ATEC’s history, ensuring the Government has a comprehensive understanding of what happening on the ground.

“Now that we can get back to face to face meetings, we will be taking the opportunity to visit each state to gather as much information as we can from our members including how they are travelling, what they need right now to survive, and what they will need to prepare for when our international borders finally open.

“Importantly, this tour will give us more information to feed back to the Government and will inform ATEC’s agenda priorities and direction going forward."

Shelley said the priority for the export tourism industry was to establish a framework for the resumption of international travel which will enable businesses to make important decisions about their operations.

“Many tourism businesses are holding on, waiting for the announcement that they can once again welcome international visitors and knowing they have a date ahead can mean the difference between hanging on or closing the doors.

“ATEC’s next step will be to communicate to the Government how vital it is that the industry has a timeline for the resumption of inbound visitation and work with them to develop a strategy to support the industry though till borders open.

ATEC will be developing a white paper informed by the member feedback outlining the needs of the industry along with a suggested framework/roadmap.

Image: South Australia Barossa Valley Ballooning

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