Many South Australian tourism businesses will struggle to benefit from the Federal Government’s new tourism package.
South Australia’s peak tourism body, the Tourism Industry Council South Australia (TiCSA) said today’s announcement is considerably less than the industry has been asking for.
“Many tourism businesses have had few visitors this year due to ongoing international border closures and low consumer confidence, particularly our tour and attraction operators,” said TiCSA CEO, Shaun de Bruyn.
“Direct and targeted support for hard hit businesses, such as JobKeeper has provided a lifeline that many tourism businesses are still reliant on to remain sustainable.
“Aviation is obviously critical to our industry and it is good to see support for this sector of tourism.
“To cut vital financial support at a time when many tourism businesses are most vulnerable puts the industry at great risk of significant business closures and thousands of local job losses.
“Tourism businesses need financial assistance and certainty to make it through the challenges ahead until the vaccine roll out is substantially completed across the country.”
TiCSA is calling for the State Government to step in and announce round three of the successful Great State Voucher program, with eligibility to include tour and attraction businesses.
This week the Queensland Government announced that Queenslanders will receive a $200 voucher to incentivise local holidays and support tour and attraction businesses in COVID-hit tourist destinations.
“If the Federal Government is reducing support that many businesses so desperately need, then this is the time for our State Government to step in and provide greater assistance to those tourism enterprises most at risk,” said Mr de Bruyn.
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