15 Apr 2020 | Media Release
Australian Chamber – Tourism welcomes the announcement by the Government to open access to loans of between $250,000 and $50 million under a new capital facility to be administered by Export Finance Australia.
“This facility for Australian exporters will save some assets vital to restarting Australian tourism when the time is right,” Australian Chamber – Tourism Executive Chair John Hart said.
“The many previously profitable tourism businesses who, due to COVID-19, are unable to gain finance from commercial sources need a facility such as this. Tourism will be rebuilding from a standing start once the COVID restrictions are wound down and will need strong products and supply chains to restart.”
“In our letter last month to the Minister for Tourism Simon Birmingham, we stressed the importance of core tourism assets and businesses too important to fail. We need to do everything we can to ensure these businesses stand ready to offer their tourist-drawing attractions once again.”
“The devastating state of Australian tourism is demonstrated by Overseas Arrivals and Departures as at February released by the ABS today. While February was only at the start of the COVID-19 border closures, the data shows a decrease of 26% compared to the same month a year ago.
“Tourism arrivals from China say it all – only 21,000 in February 2020 compared to 206,000 the previous February.”
“Tourism and events is without doubt the worst affected sector in the economy and needs significant support from Government to position it for the restart. It is key to Australia’s economic recovery from the devastating COVID-19 pandemic.”
“Successfully restarting tourism will depend on programs such as these loans and other Government support initiatives, as well as the need for detailed planning undertaken now by Government working with industry to put in place building blocks for relaunch.”
21/01/2021
The Australian Bureau of Statistics' latest employment figures indicate that Australia is on track for economic recovery, with total employment now just 93,000 jobs shy of...
13/01/2021
International Chamber of Commerce Australia is pleased to announce its thirteen nominees to the international body which arbitrates foreign commercial trade disputes. Joining the nine continuing Australian members...
22/12/2020
Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) President Ray Sputore today announced the resignation of CEO James Pearson from the nation’s largest and most representative...
15/12/2020
Australian manufacturing production is at its highest level this year with industry jobs expected to...
14/12/2020
The business collective behind a quarantine-free two-way travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand look forward to the initiative commencing early in the New Year, following approval...
9/12/2020
Members of Parliament must lay down their swords and agree to fix some key problems in Australia's IR system if we are to save and create...
9/12/2020
Enterprise Bargaining Agreement changes foreshadowed in today's industrial relations Omnibus Bill are critically important to supporting jobs and businesses in distress, but more will need to...
8/12/2020
Simplifying modern awards and providing employers and employees with more flexibility will help achieve the common goal of saving and creating Australian jobs as we...
8/12/2020
With many business owners at breaking point in 2020, criminalising underpayments and increasing civil penalties for non-compliance risks tipping the scale against people in small...
7/12/2020
Federal Parliament needs to send a message this week to encourage employers to create jobs and hire casuals by dispelling concerns around double dipping claims and the...
2/12/2020
More than a million Australians would stand to lose a quarter of their income and freedom to choose how they work in a radical push to...
27/11/2020
Business organisations from Australia and New Zealand have teamed up to deliver an updated travel bubble plan between the countries in the hopes of uniting...
26/11/2020
Australian businesses have been thrown a lifeline today in the fight against double-dipping claims, following the High Court's decision to grant special leave to Workpac and...
24/11/2020
Labor leaders and the union movement are trying to redefine casual work, putting Australia’s small businesses and jobs at risk. Today the Victorian Government announced it will...
20/11/2020
ACCI is urging state and territory leaders across Australia to immediately drop border and travel restrictions on South Australian people, after an infected pizza worker...
19/11/2020
A new joint survey produced by ACCI and the University of South Australia has found that maintaining supply chains continues to be one of the...
17/11/2020
ACCI urges the union movement to be realistic about working from home demands, as the country tries to recover economically from the pandemic. "The ACTU’s adversarial Working from...
16/11/2020
The union movement’s scare campaign about Australia’s participation in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is a paper tiger. The ACTU is attacking new opportunities for...
12/11/2020
ACCI is calling on National Cabinet to release a national scorecard on the reopening of the economy after tomorrow's meeting to coincide with the health...
26/10/2020
State Premiers and Territory Ministers now hold the key to boosting national business confidence, one of the fundamental economic and recovery drivers, following National Cabinet's meeting...