Tourism welcomes recovery funds!
Posted on January 22nd, 2020
Tourism Australia (TA) and Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ) have been working furiously behind the scenes to not only ensure correct messaging to our international markets, but also help fund additional marketing campaigns going forward.
TEQ has held regular teleconferences with our Queensland RTO Network and we appreciate the regular updates as Tourism Australia leads additional marketing activity.
An initial $76 million tourism recovery package has been announced to protect jobs, small businesses and local economies by helping to get tourists travelling across Australia again. The Federal funding package announced is most welcomed and includes:
- $20 million domestic marketing campaign
- $25 million increased funds for Tourism Australia’s international marketing
- $9.5 million increased funds for Tourism Australia’s International Media Hosting Program
- $6.5 million increased support and funding for the Australian Tourism Exchange
- $10 million regional tourism events initiative
- $5 million additional funding for the international diplomatic network
The full affects, directly and indirectly, to our tourism industry are still not known post the wide scale natural weather events across the country during the past few months. In addition to the global mainstream media attention, social media has been rife, much of which has been downright wrong (for example, the ‘heat’ maps of Australia suggesting that the entire country has been of fire). The email traffic with our international trade contacts has been thick and fast over the past few weeks and they know that our Southern Great Barrier Reef destination, and indeed Queensland is fine. However, the widescale reduction in overseas forward bookings to Australia from consumers will most certainly have an impact on the drive market up the Queensland coastline and we will have to work even harder to continue our momentum with key western markets of UK, Europe, North America and NZ.
Here are some more updates:
(added Thursday 23/1/2020) Holiday here this year: Tourism Australia has kicked off a new domestic campaign, Holiday Here This Year. Click here to read more about the campaign and how to get involved.
Tourism Australia rebuilding Australian tourism. Click here to read more about these and other initiatives and actions.
Rebuilding Australian Tourism Media Release
Assistance is being provided under Category C of the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements. Special Disaster Assistance Recovery Grants of up to $25,000 are now available for primary producers in parts of the Livingstone Shire Council who have been directly affected by the Eastern Queensland Bushfires, 8 November – 19 December 2019.
- Initial amount of up to $5,000 – to assist you with cleaning and reinstatement costs immediately following the disaster event, supported by evidence such as photographs, quotations, tax invoices and official receipts; and
- Subsequent amount of up to $20,000 – to assist you with additional cleaning and reinstatement costs must be supported by evidence of damage, invoices, proof of payment and insurances finalised.
Your local Regional Area Manager, John Metelli will be at the recovery hub in Yeppoon Friday 24th January 2020 ready to answer your questions and walk you through the application process. For more information on Category C assistance for primary producers in parts of Livingstone Shire, please phone the Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority on 1800 623 946.
Funding for individuals, not-for-profit organisations and business is also available. DRFA Category B assistance includes concessional loans of up to $250,000 and essential working capital loans of up to $100,000 and freight subsidies of up to $5,000 for the movement of stock, feed, machinery, fuel, water and building/fencing materials. For information on the freight subsidies visit daf.qld.gov.au or phone the DAF Customer Service Centre on 13 25 23.
Information on disaster assistance can be found on the Australian Government’s Disaster Assist website at www.disasterassist.gov.au and the Queensland Government’s Disaster Management website at www.disaster.qld.gov.au.
