A delegation of high-powered travel agents, tour operators, travel businesses, and suppliers met with Senator Penny Wong, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Don Farrell, Minister for Trade and Tourism, to discuss the key challenges and opportunities ahead for the sector. The meetings were organized by the Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA) and its members in the lead-up to the budget next week.

A high-powered delegation of Travel Agents, Tour Operators, Travel Businesses and Suppliers has met with Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon Penny Wong.

Sabre hosted the in-depth briefing in Sydney, and attendees included David Greenland, CT Partners Chair and AFTA Director; Greg McCarthy, Corporate Travel Management Australia & New Zealand CEO; Simon Roll, Sabre Incoming Country Manager; David Hosking, The Travel Corporation Australia CEO; Tom Beadle, Intrepid COO; Ram Chhabra, CVFR Travel Group CEO; David Goldman, Goldman Travel Joint Managing Director; Penny Spencer, Spencer Travel Managing Director; Justin Kestel, Qatar Airways Regional Manager Australia & New Zealand; Jane McKeon, Cover-More Head of Government; Ben Angell, CLIA Chair; Yohan Silva, Helloworld Circular Quay Owner; Lara Behrens, Bench Africa Director of Marketing; Louis Arul, Singapore Airlines Regional Vice President for South West Pacific; Peter Hosper, ATPI Commercial Director; James Hewlett, Collette Head of Marketing; and Chris Fundell, Globus Family of Brands Head of Marketing – Australasia.

In Melbourne, Andy Buerckner of Platinum Travel Corporation met with Minister Farrell to discuss the need for ongoing support in the skills space, which is the biggest handbrake on the sector’s overall recovery.

AFTA CEO Dean Long emphasized that the advocacy work of AFTA continues to focus on educating Australia’s leaders on the power of ATAS travel agents, tour operators, and wholesale businesses that help Australians travel. He added that this work builds on the successful advocacy that delivered on adding travel consultants to the National Skills List for the first time in over 10 years.

During the discussions with Senator Penny Wong, the delegates engaged in a wide-ranging discussion of the government’s foreign policies and the role of travel in delivering these policies, as well as the role of agents, the industry’s promotion of sustainability, increased airline competition, the ethics of organizing and selling tours to areas of the world with questionable human rights records, and the importance of travel insurance.

The travel industry has been one of the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, and it continues to face challenges such as ongoing border closures and the slow rollout of vaccinations. However, the sector is optimistic about the future and believes that with continued government support and industry collaboration, it can bounce back more vital than ever.

The travel sector is a vital contributor to the Australian economy, and the government must continue to support it during these challenging times. With the meetings with Senator Penny Wong and Minister Don Farrell, the travel industry has highlighted the key challenges and opportunities ahead and is working towards a strong recovery.

Written by: Anne Keam

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