What Happening March 2021

Sometimes it is hard to remain strong and positive. As much of the East Coast of Australia is drenched in a severe downpour, some businesses have yet another challenge to add to the difficulties they faced over the last 18 months, including bushfires and COVID-19. I can only offer two reassurances to those operators who struggle with all this stress: you are not alone and QTIC will not rest doing everything in its power to support you.

Message from our Chief Executive, Daniel Gschwind

The Federal Government’s tourism support package, announced overnight, provides significant support for airlines, specifically to allow them to keep 8,600 employees in place for the international network capacity. There is also substantial relief for security and other airport charges, which is well accepted.
 
The high profile subsidy for 800,000 domestic airfares will also boost aviation demand and hopefully lead to notable increases in capacity in the domestic network. No doubt consumers will enthusiastically welcome the opportunity of cheap flights. Queensland has done comparatively well with 13 of the 33 subsidies routes leading to four of the state’s destinations (Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Whitsundays and Cairns). The other regions will be less impressed. Notably, Brisbane, a major tourism destination affected by COVID, is also not on the list, other than access to Uluru, Alice Springs and Launceston.