IF LABOR is to seize power at the federal election on Sat, the party’s leader Anthony Albanese has pledged to allocate $48 million to help the country’s travel and tourism sectors recover from the pandemic.
The major funding package includes $10 million to enable tourism businesses to re-enter the international market, including wholesalers and exporters, through activities such as expos, marketing campaigns and development schemes.
A further $10 million will be stumped up to attract more workers to the sector from overseas, while another $10 million will be invested over the next two years into expanding the Accommodation Association’s hospitality portal, which offers a range of training and upskilling opportunities for workers.
The Caravan Park industry will also be big winners if Albanese can muster the votes, with $10 million planned for upgrades to sites around the country to maintain a growing pool of family tourism accommodation options.
Finally, $8 million will be provided for the Quality Tourism Framework, which in partnership with Australian Tourism Industry Council (ATIC) seeks to help small tourism businesses in the sector survive and prosper.
“This funding will provide mentoring, support and programs to assist new tourism businesses start up and develop new tourism product to meet the market,” ATIC Chair Evan Hall said.
Summing up the tourism package, Shadow Tourism Minister Don Farrell said the funding showed that Labor can be relied upon for a recovery.
“The travel and tourism industries have done it tough over the past two and half years…an Albanese Govt will stand with the sector, working with owners and operators,” he pledged.
The post Labor makes big pledge appeared first on Travel Daily.
Source: traveldaily