ATIC supports $130 billion JobKeeper package

The Australian Tourism Industry Council (ATIC) has strongly backed the Federal Government’s $130 billion JobKeeper package.

ATIC represents thousands of local tourism enterprises and an industry in which over 90% of 300,000 still registered tourism businesses are small to medium enterprises and sole traders that collectively employ 1 million people.

ATIC Executive Director Simon Westaway said today’s package, once passed by Federal Parliament, represented a genuine lifeline and offer of hope to Australian tourism enterprises, most already facing their darkest hour.

Westaway noted that for tourism firms, from sole traders to small or larger enterprises, to be directly incentivised to retain valued personnel as our industry faces its greatest ever challenge, is strongly welcomed.

Westaway added “we naturally urge for the return of Federal Parliament and address this package of major significance swiftly and with appropriate scrutiny but bipartisan backing.

“Nobody is kidding themselves. The road back for many Australian tourism businesses is going to be incredibly tough. Our international border still remains closed and a number of States and Territories have shut themselves off to interstate visitors.

“The solution is simple. For our industry to again prosper to its once lofty heights we need to get on top of COVID-19. But we also need a tourism industry still with oxygen in its veins to effectively pivot and seize the genuine future opportunity the visitor economy is for our nation and the 1 million people we employ.

“The public health, safety and well-being of our fellow Australians must always remain our number one national priority and none more so than at this time. Our industry has stood solidly as one behind the all-of-government decisions that are designed to ensure this remains the case in facing the headwinds of COVID-19.”