The NSW Tourism Industry Council believes the $95 million support package from the Federal Government to support zoos and aquariums is a great show of faith and support for tourism operators at a time when they need it most.
“We know how hard the tourism industry is suffering, particularly in NSW which is the gateway to Australia for many international visitors,” said Simon Spellicy, Chair of the NSW Tourism Industry Council.
“Many tourism operators which exhibited animals suffered tremendous financial losses as a result of the bushfires, and now they’ve been hit with the impacts of COVID -19,” Mr Spellicy said.
“These operations can apply to the Government to access these funds which can be used for animal welfare costs, including the cost of feed, specialised care and utilities relating to animal care.
“This fund is on top of any support the relevant businesses can receive should they meet the criteria for JobKeeper payments.
“The NSW Tourism Industry Council strongly encourages businesses to apply for these grants to assist with their operational costs at a time when visitation is not possible.
“This also comes at the same time as the establishment of the Tourism Restart Taskforce which will provide advice to industry and Government on the short, medium and long-term priorities to rebuild tourism in Australia.
“As a representative body, the NSW Tourism Industry Council will continue to liaise directly with Federal Minister Simon Birmingham on NSW specific initiatives that will drive visitation to specific locations, both in Sydney and regional NSW,” Mr Spellicy said.
