With domestic travel accelerating and international travellers returning, tonight’s Budget announcement of $48 million over 4 years from 2022-23 to support recruitment and marketing in the tourism and travel sectors, and for infrastructure upgrades for caravan parks is great news.It includes a commitment to support the Accommodation Association’s ‘The Hub” platform to connect people to vacancies, foster skills development and showcase Tourism as a career.
Accommodation Australia and Tourism Accommodation Australia have been working closely with Government and relevant Departments to raise awareness of the massive skills gap and workforce challenges confronting the sector.
Quote attributable to Accommodation Association President Leanne Harwood:
“No matter where you go across Australia, the biggest challenge we are all facing as Australia’s Travel and Tourism Sector gets back to normal, is filling the skills shortfall and workforce gap created during COVID. Tonight’s announcement of $10 million in training and skills development will go a long way in helping us attract, educate and re-train the 100,000 staff we need right now including supporting more First Nations Australians, people living with a disability, and older Australians.”
“This is a very welcome shot in the arm for one of the most important sectors driving Australia’s economic recovery, our Visitor Economy. We look forward to continuing to work with the Government as we rebuild together.”
Quote attributable to Tourism Accommodation Association CEO Michael Johnson:
“This funding will go a long way to assist with our goals of upskilling existing talent, and attracting more people to return to the workforce and share their skills and knowledge. It will also allow us to spotlight the career paths that exist in our sector including to those who perhaps haven’t considered it before and help us rebuild.”
