“Last year’s delayed Budget was understandably about providing economy-wide support for industry, but this year has to be about accelerating the path to the new normal,” said Business NSW Regional Director Paula Martin.
“In our most recent Business Conditions Survey conducted across NSW, 29 per cent of businesses in the visitor economy believed they were at a high risk of failure when JobKeeper, tax relief, interest waivers and other support measures end,” Ms Martin said.
“This vulnerability will hang over the visitor economy supply chain for much of the year and must be factored into deciding when and how these measures are withdrawn.
“We are working closely with the tourism industry and support calls for new wage subsidy support for businesses in the visitor economy supply chain which have been heavily impacted by government restrictions.
“The visitor economy is broader than just those businesses that directly serve visitors such as hotels, airlines, attractions and tour operators. It includes transport operators, food producers, retailers, cultural bodies and the services sector, without whom tourism businesses cannot operate.
“Like others, these businesses are finding it impossible to plan past the March ‘COVID-cliff’ when government support ends.
“The new package must provide longer-term certainty so businesses can plan ahead for as long as they are heavily impacted, through no fault of their own, by Government restrictions,” Ms Martin said.
