Tourism operators both large and small on the Sunshine Coast who continue to face significant financial hardship will benefit from further targeted financial support from the Morrison Government in partnership with the Queensland State Government.
Under the agreed package of $70 million, $30 million from the State and Federal Government’s $600m support package will be targeted at supporting Queensland’s iconic tourism attractions and $40 million will be used to provide a second round of grants to small, medium and large employing tourism and hospitality businesses across the state that received an initial grant from the Tourism and Hospitality Sector Hardship Program.
Federal Member for Fisher Andrew Wallace said that the latest round of lockdowns and border closures have had a devastating impact on tourism businesses on the Sunshine Coast.
“Though it was tough for everyone, a great many local tourism businesses were able to innovate, work hard and find a way through previous Queensland lockdowns. However, the most recent South East Queensland lockdown has seriously damaged Queenslanders’ confidence to travel and devastated our local tourism industry.” Mr Wallace said.
“Through my Fisher Tourism Council I have been closely following the impact that lockdowns and border closures have had on local businesses and I know that for many of them, the future has been looking bleak.”
“I have passed this information back to the Federal Government and I know that they understand the impact these restrictions have had. That is why I am proud to see this support will go directly to struggling tourism businesses in Queensland and particularly on the Coast.”
Applications for grants under both streams of the Tourism and Hospitality Sector Hardship Program will open in October.
“To have a strong tourism sector on the Sunshine Coast employing local residents we depend on all Australians doing their part and getting vaccinated. Governments must also hold up their end of the bargain and stick to the plan agreed at National Cabinet that will see restrictions ease and our borders open up as we reach our double vaccination targets of 70 to 80 per cent.” Mr Wallace said.
Iconic Tourism Grants
Grants of up to $4 million will be available to ensure that major tourism enterprises remain viable and are ready to scale up as visitation returns. Eligibility criteria for the iconic tourism grants will include:
- Being key drivers of significant interstate and/or international tourism, as well as major employers.
- Nationally significant tourism operators and attractions, such as major theme parks and major reef tourism operators.
- Demonstrating a 50% reduction in turnover and visitation over the 3 month period from 1 July to 30 September 2021, compared to pre-COVID.
- Businesses to maintain their staff levels through the assistance period, to the end of 2021.
Second Round of the Tourism and Hospitality Sector Hardship Program
A second round of grants of $15,000, $25,000 and $50,000 will be available for small, medium and large employing businesses across the state that have experienced a reduction in turnover of at least 70 per cent for at least seven consecutive days between 1 July and 30 September.
For more information visit https://www.dtis.qld.gov.au/our-work/tourism-hospitality-sector-hardship-program
