Tourism businesses want more federal government support with household spending dropping to lockdown levels as the latest outbreak of COVID-19 worsens.
The Australian Tourism Export Council managing director Peter Shelley is warning that operators have not been able to bring in the revenue they expected over the summer holidays as the Omicron variant spreads.
“Everybody was looking forward to the Christmas holidays to try and get some revenue and get their businesses back on track after all the challenges of the last two years. But sadly the holidays presented a more frustrating and stressful time than business owners expected,” Mr Shelley said.
“People are taking their own measures to prevent themselves from picking up COVID and there’s a self-imposed lockdown happening. That’s making it a bad time for the tourism and hospitality … The industry desperately needs cash flow to start recovering.
“And you’ve got the challenge all industries are facing to keep doors open when staff are in lockdown for being close contacts, there’s a staff shortage.”
Recently released data from ANZ bank shows major cities, including Sydney and Melbourne, are in shadow lockdowns with households spending at levels similar to when governments imposed major restrictions.
A spokesman for Austrade, the federal government’s trade, investment and education promotion agency, said since March 2020 the Commonwealth has provided more than $20 billion in assistance to the sector including through the wage subsidy scheme JobKeeper, the business cash flow boost and targeted support programs.
“The Commonwealth and state and territory governments have also delivered additional, targeted lockdown support under a cost sharing agreement with more than $1 billion provided for the tourism and hospitality sector over the past six months,” he said.
Mr Shelley, who is based in Sydney, said metropolitan areas were faring worse than regional locations but said until international tourism opened up more there would be difficulties.
Tourism businesses want more federal government support with household spending dropping to lockdown levels as the latest outbreak of COVID-19 worsens.
The Australian Tourism Export Council managing director Peter Shelley is warning that operators have not been able to bring in the revenue they expected over the summer holidays as the Omicron variant spreads.
“Everybody was looking forward to the Christmas holidays to try and get some revenue and get their businesses back on track after all the challenges of the last two years. But sadly the holidays presented a more frustrating and stressful time than business owners expected,” Mr Shelley said.
“People are taking their own measures to prevent themselves from picking up COVID and there’s a self-imposed lockdown happening. That’s making it a bad time for the tourism and hospitality … The industry desperately needs cash flow to start recovering.
“And you’ve got the challenge all industries are facing to keep doors open when staff are in lockdown for being close contacts, there’s a staff shortage.”
Recently released data from ANZ bank shows major cities, including Sydney and Melbourne, are in shadow lockdowns with households spending at levels similar to when governments imposed major restrictions.
A spokesman for Austrade, the federal government’s trade, investment and education promotion agency, said since March 2020 the Commonwealth has provided more than $20 billion in assistance to the sector including through the wage subsidy scheme JobKeeper, the business cash flow boost and targeted support programs.
“The Commonwealth and state and territory governments have also delivered additional, targeted lockdown support under a cost sharing agreement with more than $1 billion provided for the tourism and hospitality sector over the past six months,” he said.
Mr Shelley, who is based in Sydney, said metropolitan areas were faring worse than regional locations but said until international tourism opened up more there would be difficulties.