TRAVEL agents in Western Australia will share in a $3 million targeted financial support package announced this morning by the state’s Tourism Minister Paul Papalia (TD breaking news).
The funding follows months of lobbying the WA State Government, with Papalia now recognising that “travel agents have been one of the industries most impacted by COVID-19, with up to 90% of their income drawn from Western Australians travelling overseas”.
To be eligible, agents must be a legitimate small business and have experienced a 75% or greater reduction in turnover.
Applications for the package will be open from 02-30 Oct, and agents will be contacted directly with information on how to apply.
Those who have not been contacted about the program by Wed 23 Sep are asked to email tasp@smallbusiness.wa.gov.au.
The initial rollout of the program will provide packages of up to $5,000 for eligible home-based agents, and a minimum of $10,000 for bricks and mortar travel agent businesses.
“The Federal Government’s international border closures will continue to severely impact these businesses for some time to come.
“Western Australia is the first and only state in the country to implement a dedicated travel agent support program of this kind,” Papalia said, with the State Government recognising the important work agents have been doing to refund customers’ travel credits and vouchers from suppliers across the globe.
“This support fund is designed to provide some assistance to travel agents to maintain their operating expenses until the Federal Government devises a longer term solution,” he added.
Christine Ross-Davies from Attadale Travel and Jo Francis from Global Travel Solutions, who have strenuously highlighted the industry’s issues to the WA Govt, welcomed the package and said they hoped other state and territory governments would follow and also offer targeted support for travel agents.
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Source: traveldaily