2 July 2021
TOURISM INDUSTRY WELCOMES PHASED PLAN OUT OF COVID
The Federal Government’s four phase plan out of Covid announced today is a step in the right direction that will be widely welcomed by Australia’s tourism industry the national peak body for the sector the Tourism and Transport Forum (TTF) said today.
TTF Chief Executive Margy Osmond said that while set targets for the vaccination program were yet to be determined and she looked forward to seeing more details in the days ahead the announcement was a good first step on the path to recovery.
“The tourism industry has been crying out for clearly defined target dates for the rollout of the vaccination program and a phased plan for recovery and this strategy will provide some light at the end of the tunnel for a sector that has been haemorrhaging tens of billions of dollars since the beginning of the pandemic.
“Apart from setting targets for rollout of the vaccination program and a plan to reopen the nation that aligns with those targets it is pleasing to hear that we will moving to a plan that focus on managing Covid not eradicating it totally and other changes that will recognise vaccinated Australians with greater freedoms.
“The longer term proposal abolishing current restrictions on leaving the country for those who have been fully vaccinated and reopening to International travellers who have also had their jabs will put the tourism industry on a firmer footing and establish a much clearer path to recovery.
“The latest round of lockdowns coming as they have to coincide with the third school holiday period in a row that has been thrown into chaos will cost the industry well over $6 billion our latest economic impact analysis tells us.
“Of that NSW alone will miss out on $2.1 billion or $153 million a day – almost one third of the total losses predicted nationally for the peak holiday period.
“While the health of Australians remains the number one priority in the management of COVID-19 and TTF commends the management of the crisis, the survival of our industry is at stake and some certainty around a plan for reopening will provide the certainty we need to embark on a full-scale recovery.
“This latest outbreak is proof of how important it is for the vaccination program to be fast-tracked and for all Australian’s to get the jab and a plan that has clear targets and is achievable will be critical in coming out of the pandemic.
“TTF and its members across the tourism, accommodation, aviation and transport sectors looks forward to working closely with Federal and State Governments on the plan to reopen the country.”
ENDS
Contact: TTF Director of Corporate Affairs and Membership Graeme Moses gmoses@ttf.org.au or 0434 569 470