Enough support? NSW Sector takes another school holiday hit
Sydney’s latest Covid 19 outbreak will decimate sector: spending predicted to be down by $6.3 billion nationally
Greater Sydney has been plunged into a two-week lockdown for the entire mid-year school holiday period and Australia’s struggling tourism industry has estimated it will lose over $6 billion. A figure predicted by new economic data commissioned by the Tourism and Transport Forum (TTF).
In a timely announcement early this week, the NSW Government revealed a lockdown support package that aims to assist tourism businesses to ride out the impact of this latest crisis.
TTF CEO, Margy Osmond, applauded the NSW Government’s swift response and described the package as well designed to support business cash flow.
The package includes grants of up to $10,000 for business across two categories, an extension of the Dine and Discover Voucher program until 31 August 2021 and optional deferral of payroll and gaming tax payment – ensuring both small and large businesses are covered by the package.
Ms Osmond said: “The NSW Government has clearly recognised the economic impacts of the most significant lockdown Sydney and New South Wales has suffered since the initial March 2020 lockdown and has acted quickly to help secure the future of many tourism businesses across the state.
“This is the third school holiday in a row that a lockdown in one of our major cities has decimated a peak holiday period and the knock-on effect is nationwide. While it can’t possibly make up for revenue lost over these school holidays the package will go some way to softening the blow for thousands of businesses.
“The tourism industry continues to suffer from a lack of international travel, and the lack of confidence among Australians in the domestic travel market and in planning holidays, is diabolical, making it very difficult for businesses in our sector to stay afloat. The management of the crisis by the NSW Government and the financial support will be greatly appreciated by businesses across the sector.
“This latest outbreak is proof of how important it is for the vaccination program to be fast-tracked and for all Australians to get the jab as soon as possible. The Federal Government now needs to follow suit and look very seriously at some other form of ongoing support for the tourism sector to ensure we come out the other side of the pandemic.”
Tourism Accommodation Australia also reacted to the news of the NSW government’s lockdown support package. The association agreed that it was helpful for small business and regional motel members, but pointed out that additional support is needed for large Greater Sydney hotels struggling to survive.
TAA NSW CEO Michael Johnson said he welcomed support for small businesses and those in the regions who have missed out on July school holiday bookings but was disappointed city properties who have borne the brunt of the economic hardship have been left out.
He said: “There are 45,000 hotel rooms in Greater Sydney and all these hotels have reported losses of all forward bookings to August.”
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Mandy has over 17 years of accommodation and tourism industry writing experience and is Editor of AccomNews & Resort News, Publisher of SchoolNews & Director of Multimedia Pty Ltd. She is a retired registered nurse with a 25-year NHS career that followed a few unforgettable years in hotel housekeeping.
