The Morrison Government will provide a one-off payment to help travel agents in recognition that many continue to work hard processing consumer refunds, while unable to trade due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Federal Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham said most travel agents faced the unusual circumstances of having to refund existing bookings at the same time as they managed their operating models in the face of uncertainty about international travel.
"This one off payment recognises that travel agents are operating in an exceptional set of circumstances where most are having to refund last year's income while continuing to work with no additional income," Mr Birmingham said.
"Providing further assistance to travel agents in the current environment will help keep them afloat at a time when they are continuing to hold travel credits for consumers who have previously cancelled travel.
"This one off payment is in addition to our significant economic support for the tourism and travel industry during the COVID-19 pandemic which continues to assist hundreds of thousands of tourism businesses across Australia."
Australian Federation of Travel Agents chief executive Darren Rudd agents were delighted that the government had acknowledged the challenging circumstances that travel agents had confronted.
"This package will help to ensure the sector's sustainability to assist Australian travellers with the new world of COVIDSafe travel," he said.
Under the $128 million scheme, eligible travel agents with a turnover of between $50,000 and $20 million a year will be able to apply for the one off payment.
Payments will be scaled, with a minimum payment of $1500 for a business with a turnover of $50,000 up to a maximum payment of $100,000 for a business with a turnover of $20 million.
Last week Carnival Cruise Line announced that it was diverting a quarter of all international cruises to the domestic market due to demand.
All cruises departing Sydney and Brisbane will visit Great Barrier Reef sites like Cairns, Airlie Beach and Port Douglas as well as Moreton Island off Brisbane.
The company's move is expected to boost the Queensland economy by about $17 million.
