FEDERAL Government assistance for the travel industry will help keep the doors open at local agency Panorama Travel, according to its director Caroline Sage.
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Ms Sage said that while agents still aren't sure how much they will receive under the scheme of one-off payments to combat losses due to COVID-19, anything they get will be appreciated.
"The payments will definitely help us keep the doors open," she said.
"We have taken a massive hit having to refund a lot of bookings while at the same time not being able to make any.
"We still have bills coming in such as rent, electricity and staff wages, so financial support is needed, especially for smaller agents."
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A combination of temporary closures, limited trade due to travel restrictions and processing cancellations and refunds has left the industry on a knife edge, especially for smaller, independent operators.
Under the Federal Government's $128 million scheme, eligible travel agents with a turnover of between $50,000 and $20 million per year will be able to apply for the one-off payment.
Payments will be scaled, with a minimum payment of $1500 for a business with a turnover of $50,000 up to a maximum payment of $100,000 for a business with a turnover of $20 million.
Federal tourism minister Simon Birmingham said the payments recognised travel agents' exceptional circumstances.
"This one-off payment is in addition to our significant economic support for the tourism and travel industry during the COVID-19 pandemic," he said.
Signature Travel Orange senior consultant Robert Thornberry said it had been a challenging time.
"Most of our income comes from international trips, so between not being able to make any new bookings, plus having to cancel and refund existing bookings, it really has made things difficult," he said.
"With the state borders opening, we are starting to see a lot of interest in domestic travel, so hopefully with increased revenue from there, coupled with the one-off government payments, we will begin to see a lift in business and start getting back to some kind of normal operations."
Australian Federation of Travel Agents CEO Darren Rudd said the group was grateful the government had acknowledged the industry's unique circumstances.