Hi Travel & Cruise travel agent Jamal Omran backs industry call for $125 million support package
A Coburg travel agent who built her Sydney Rd agency from nothing 21 years ago to a thriving business which employs locals and services thousands of clients has backed an industry call for a $125 million government support package.
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A Coburg travel agent whose popular Sydney Rd business was crippled by the COVID-19 Pandemic has backed an industry call for a $125 million government support package.
Hi Travel & Cruise owner Jamal Omran said business was down “99 per cent” since travel restrictions were in enforced in March.
“I’ve lost a 21-year business and 6000 clients and four employees,” Ms Omran said.
“I built the business from scratch, I painted the walls myself, I worked really hard, it’s like my baby.
“We’ve had ups and downs over the time but this is the first time I’ve been forced to close.
“I cried every day because I’m not used being home without a job.
“The government has destroyed my business and the travel agents industry (and) without a grant we will be out of business, I’ve never asked for a handout but I’ll be unemployed, my staff will be unemployed.”
Ms Omran said her business raked in more than $2 million but she estimated she would only make $20,000 this year.
She estimates she need $300,000 a year to “keep the lights” on save her employee’s job until borders reopen and travel resumes.
Ms Omran was scathing on how the government has handled the pandemic.
She said she gets Job Keeper but grants to keep her business afloat never arrived.
“It’s all just bullshit for the TV,” Ms Omran said.
“For me open the borders and let people fly and we can go back to the office and work.
“I’ve got very loyal clients … but (the government) they’re just cruel, they’re just destroying us … It’s been pretty bad.”
Ms Omran has also asked people to support local when planning their next holidays.
She said when interstate travel reopens or even regional travel within Victoria kicks then she hoped customers will “go local”.
“Support local businesses, don’t go online, support what AFTA (the peak body) is trying to do,” she said.
“Support local, we look after you.”
Ms Omran backed a call by the Australian Federation of Travel Agents for the federal government to provide a $125 million support package.
According to AFTA data there are 4000 travel agents in the country which employ
40,000 Australians and contributes $28 billion each year to the economy.
AFTA estimated 25 per cent of businesses will close without support.
The majority of travel agencies are small, family owned businesses, and AFTA estimates up to a quarter will close as a result of the economic fallout from the virus.
The industry hasn’t received any support outside of the standard coronavirus support packages offered to all businesses such as JobKeeper and JobSeeker.
In contrast, other industries have received hundreds of millions of dollars in monetary relief, including builders through the home builder scheme ($688 million), Arts and entertainment ($250 million), film and television ($400 million), and aviation ($1.1 billion).
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