The role of tourism in economic recovery
The tourism industry has been hit hard by the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. It will, however, also play a huge part in recovery.
Stay safe, stay home
It's important that everyone still continues to stay safe and stay home. If you should need to go out, please make sure you are adhering to the current restrictions that are in place, and that you make yourself aware of the current advice to the community and advice on travelling to and around WA.
Useful information on COVID-19, social distancing, and some of the restrictions around where you can and can't go can be found on the WA Government's COVID-19 coronavirus web page.
Latest news and announcements (stimulus, health, closures, etc.)
Tourism Recovery Fund Announced
Statement from Tourism Council WA 13/05/2020
Today the State Government has announced a Tourism Recovery Fund to provide financial assistance to tourism businesses. This follows Tourism Council WA’s sustained advocacy on the cash flow crisis facing tourism businesses as a result of COVID-19 restrictions. Tourism Council WA has pursued this assistance through our media, PR and government lobbying efforts.
As a result of our advocacy, eligible Accredited Tourism Businesses which had missed out on the State’s $17,500 payroll tax grant can now apply for financial assistance. The assistance is:
Recovery Grants of $6,500 per eligible business including accommodation, attractions, tours, transport and tourism experiences – for up to 1,600 businesses.Tourism Business Survival Grants of $25,000 - $100,000 for businesses in exceptional circumstances.
We are very proud to have advocated for Accredited Tourism Businesses to be the focus of this funding and Accredited Tourism Businesses will make up the vast majority of the 1,600 businesses which will receive the grants.
We will be in touch shortly with as much information and assistance as possible to assist you to apply for the grants. Unfortunately, the total funds available and eligibility criteria set by the government will limit the grant funding and not all businesses wanting grants will meet the eligibility criteria.For more information, visit the Tourism WA website.
COVID-19 hygiene training sets course for hospitality recovery
Statement from the Western Australian Government 29/04/2020 1:45 PM
WA's hospitality industry is being prepared for a return to business with the launch of a mandatory COVID-19 hygiene training program to protect the public and venue staff.
The initiative ensures strong COVID-19 protections will be in place when restrictions are eased in the future.
The specialised COVID-19 hygiene training course will need to be successfully completed by every staff member employed at a hospitality venue - with businesses strictly only able to reopen when the requirements are met.
The course draws on State and Federal health directions regarding COVID-19.
The AHA Hospitality & Tourism COVID-19 Hygiene Course covers the following key elements:
- Understanding COVID-19 and venue restrictions;
- Reporting personal health issues;
- Maintaining personal and work environment hygiene practices, specific to COVID-19;
- Reducing cross contamination through procedures, specific to COVID-19; and
- Effective cleaning and sanitising practices, specific to COVID-19
The course is two-tiered, with all staff required to successfully complete the first component, and managers and supervisors required to complete the second, more advanced aspect.
Every venue must have a staff member with the more advanced accreditation on shift at all times, as the venue's dedicated hygiene officer.
Businesses will also have to display signage that the venue is compliant with all conditions.
Staff will receive a certificate of completion, a badge and wallet card which contains prompters of the key learning outcomes from the course.
Venues will receive a certificate of participation, front and back of house posters, a door sticker and bar and table 'talkers'.
Western Australia's 70,000 hospitality workers are encouraged to study the Tier 1 course material and complete the assessment now at http://www.hospitalityhygiene.com/
The more advanced Tier 2 aspect, for venue hygiene officers, will launch on the website on Wednesday, May 6, 2020.
The AHA Hospitality & Tourism COVID-19 Hygiene Course is supported by the McGowan Government and is being delivered by the Australian Hotels Association (WA).
Existing social distancing regulations for hospitality businesses remain in place, with any future easing of restrictions dependent on expert health advice.
Tourism Council updates
Cautious easing of restrictions
Effective Monday, April 27.Western Australians are now permitted to leave home for non-contact recreational activities in up to groups of up to 10 people, in compliance with travel restrictions. The State Government has cited picnics, fishing, boating, hiking and camping as examples of permitted activities. Social distancing, use of sanitiser and not sharing equipment remain key measures for these activities to proceed.
COVID-19 Business Recovery Tool Now Available
Tourism Council WA, in partnership with the Australian Tourism Industry Council, is today launching a COVID-19 Business Recovery Tool as part of the Quality Tourism Framework.
The tool is designed to support businesses to identify strategies on how they will respond to various stages of restrictions being lifted to support recovery, covering key themes:
- Assess the current situation
- Business continuity action plan
- Staff management
- Financial analysis
- Operational recovery
- Marketing and communications
The Business Recovery Tool provides businesses with a COVID-19 Recovery Plan following the completion of the module to assist businesses to recover and build resilience.
How to Access - Accredited Tourism Businesses
Accredited Tourism Businesses can now access the complimentary Business Recovery Tool through the online program. Log in to the online portal and:
- Go to "Apply For" at the bottom of the page;
- Select "Choose Programs";
- Select "COVID-19 Business Recovery" from the drop-down options;
- You will then receive an email advising you have access to the module.
Our team of Industry Advisors is available to assist you to progress through the Tool. Please send us an email if you require assistance.
Global news
Coming soon.
Current travel restrictions
From 11.59pm Tuesday 31 March 2020, Western Australians are not permitted to travel outside their designated region without an exemption.
Western Australian intrastate travel is defined as movement through the boundaries of the regions of Western Australia.
These regions are:
- Perth and Peel (due to their proximity, the Perth and Peel regions will form one region)
- South West
- Great Southern
- Goldfields-Esperance (stronger restrictions apply)
- Mid-West
- Wheatbelt
- Gascoyne
- Pilbara (stronger restrictions apply to parts of the Shire of East Pilbara)
- Kimberley (stronger restrictions apply to the entire Kimberley region).
For more information please view the WA regional boundaries map and check exemptions.
Postpone, don’t cancel
Tourism Council WA is asking Western Australians to postpone, rather than cancel, any planned holidays in WA that can’t currently take place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tourism Council WA CEO Evan Hall said tourism businesses were relaxing their cancellation policies to allow credits so visitors could return at a later date.
“On behalf of tourism businesses across the State, we ask that you do not cancel your holiday – just postpone it. Get in touch with tourism businesses and postpone your booking for a better time,” Mr Hall said.
“Cancelling your booking now will be devastating to tourism businesses, but if you can postpone your booking, they will be extremely grateful knowing that you do want to visit in the future when it is safe to do so.
“During these unprecedented times, the tourism industry understands that public health should be everyone’s top priority.”
Mr Hall said many tourism businesses had already gone into hibernation but intended to resume providing a great service to Western Australians as soon as possible.
“Right now, thousands of tourism business across Western Australia are assessing when to suspend operations and how they are going to support staff, put food on the table, and recover in the future,” he said.
