For months, the tourism sector has been crying out for support in the face of the ongoing impact of COVID-19.
Australian Bureau of Statistics figures released today again highlight the financial cliff the sector is experiencing and the reality that this industry can’t just snap back on an arbitrary date in September.
Overseas Arrivals and Departures figures released today show the expected ongoing impact to the industry, with Australia experiencing a decrease of 99.5 per cent on visitor arrivals for the second month in a row.
While the Government continues to hint at support beyond September, the sector is crying out for certainty now.
The tourism industry runs on forward planning and advance bookings, so being left with uncertainty by the Morrison Government has significant impacts for Australia’s 300,000 tourism operators and the one million people they employ.
Many tourism businesses are already at breaking point and there is no end in sight to international border closures, as well as concerning growth in the number of cases of community transmission of COVID-19.
Thousands of tourism businesses and jobs are in limbo because the Morrison Government stubbornly refuses to align its announcement schedule with the sector’s needs.
Every day the Morrison Government fails to provide certainty to Australian tourism operators is another day businesses and workers will be left behind, and more Australians will be forced to join the jobless queues.
The Government most not delay outlining what support it will provide these Australian workers and businesses after September.