ART calls for ongoing support 

BTN News
Thursday, 28 January 2021
Australian Regional Tourism (ART) is calling for targeted support for the country's regional tourism businesses to not only bolster recovery now, but to drive a stronger, more resilient industry for the future.

JobKeeper payments have been a lifeline to many businesses and with the program set to conclude at the end of March, extremely tough times are ahead for operators in some regional destinations. 

While JobKeeper has been the saviour for so many it has been far from a perfect solution, instead causing a range of other challenges, including ability to access and keep skilled staff.

ART chair Coralie Bell said this time last year, regional tourism businesses were in the depths of a bushfire crisis, devastation on the back of prolonged drought, and quickly followed by floods and then Covid-19.

"Positive signs are visible in some destinations, with businesses experiencing good trade over the recent summer weeks, but the goal of 'recovery' is far from achieved," said Bell.

"There have been enough handouts, we want to see the industry come out of bushfires and Covid-19 stronger and ready to thrive - not just survive until the money stops!"

ART is advocating for governments to partner with industry to provide support that is linked to outcomes that strengthen the industry to not only survive, but to develop robust businesses ready to pull through future challenges.

The regional visitor economy needs urgent action to provide:
• Reliable and useful tourism data to support sustainable planning and decision-making;
• Initiatives that support regional dispersal, knowing visitors will travel three to four hours from major population centres and this ongoing challenge has only been amplified;
• Programs and initiatives to address skills shortages and
• Industry development to build a stronger and more resilient communities.

ART calls for ongoing support 

BTN News
Thursday, 28 January 2021
Australian Regional Tourism (ART) is calling for targeted support for the country's regional tourism businesses to not only bolster recovery now, but to drive a stronger, more resilient industry for the future.

JobKeeper payments have been a lifeline to many businesses and with the program set to conclude at the end of March, extremely tough times are ahead for operators in some regional destinations. 

While JobKeeper has been the saviour for so many it has been far from a perfect solution, instead causing a range of other challenges, including ability to access and keep skilled staff.

ART chair Coralie Bell said this time last year, regional tourism businesses were in the depths of a bushfire crisis, devastation on the back of prolonged drought, and quickly followed by floods and then Covid-19.

"Positive signs are visible in some destinations, with businesses experiencing good trade over the recent summer weeks, but the goal of 'recovery' is far from achieved," said Bell.

"There have been enough handouts, we want to see the industry come out of bushfires and Covid-19 stronger and ready to thrive - not just survive until the money stops!"

ART is advocating for governments to partner with industry to provide support that is linked to outcomes that strengthen the industry to not only survive, but to develop robust businesses ready to pull through future challenges.

The regional visitor economy needs urgent action to provide:
• Reliable and useful tourism data to support sustainable planning and decision-making;
• Initiatives that support regional dispersal, knowing visitors will travel three to four hours from major population centres and this ongoing challenge has only been amplified;
• Programs and initiatives to address skills shortages and
• Industry development to build a stronger and more resilient communities.