The Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) announced a positive advocacy development with regard to the Federal Parliament’s inquiry report into Australia’s tourism and international education sectors.

The report titled Are we there yet?’: From recovery to resilience – opportunities and challenges for Australia’s tourism sector incorporated many of ATIA’s key recommendations.

The report outlines 28 recommendations aimed at strengthening the tourism sector and enhancing its resilience to future challenges.

That said, it reflects the Association’s submission and evidence provided by ATIA CEO Dean Long, who appeared before the inquiry to press for change.

ATIA’s acting chief executive Ingrid Fraser lauded this, saying “This report is a win for the travel sector and a reflection of ATIA’s leadership in advocating for the industry. We are thrilled to see our key recommendations for increasing air travel capacity included in the report. These policies are essential to supporting Australia’s global competitiveness and the continued growth of our travel and tourism sectors.”

Focussing on the things that matter

ATIA is pleased to see a focus on increasing the competitiveness, accessibility and sustainability of air travel, and the pursuit of further “open skies” agreements to enhance international air travel, consistent with Australia’s national interests. Increased air-travel capacity on international routes will provide Australian consumers with more options and competitive pricing.

Another important recommendation is the call for the Australian Government to engage with New Zealand and other neighbouring countries to develop joint visa offerings and other initiatives designed to encourage multi-country tourism. Such policies will remove barriers to travel and help enhance the region’s attractiveness to international tourists.