The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry has assembled a who’s who of the Australian travel and tourism industry to serve on a special ‘Tourism Restart Taskforce’ which will chart the course for the sector to rebuild.
Chaired by former Sovereign Hill CEO and industry icon, Jeremy Johnson AM, the taskforce features captains of industry covering sectors including accommodation, travel retail, cruising, export, government, events, marketing and business.
Alongside Johnson, members include Bob East, Experience Co and Tourism Australia; Martin Ferguson, Tourism Accommodation Australia; Geoff Donaghy, Business Events Council Australia; Graham Turner, Flight Centre; Denis Pierce, Australian Tourism Export Council; Sarina Bratton, Ponant; Nikki Govan, Business SA; Bruce Baird, Tourism Transport Forum; Jacqui Walshe, The Walshe Group and John Hart, Australian Chamber – Tourism.
Key duties of the taskforce will include liaising with governments at multiple levels and connecting the wider tourism sector into all facets of the recovery effort. Key milestones will include the gradual reopening of businesses and borders whilst continuing to urge compliance with social restrictions and distancing as state and territory governments assess and relax restrictions.
“The exceptional group of tourism leaders assembled in this Taskforce will give Australian tourism the best chance of positioning itself for long-term growth after the restart period,” said Johnson.
“Tourism Australia, working with the State Tourism Bodies and the visitor economy sector, will create the demand for visitation as we emerge from the COVID19 crisis; the Taskforce will focus on the structure to ensure all tourism businesses can deliver on that promise.”
Tourism Accommodation Australia Chairman, Martin Ferguson, said it was important TAA was able to contribute on behalf of the accommodation sector during what will “inevitably be a long road to recovery”.
“From providing crisis accommodation to offering lodging for returning Australians requiring COVID-19 isolation, Australia’s hotels will play a leading role in the recovery of our tourism sector in the same way they have during the crisis.”