Slashed airfares to Alice Springs and Uluru to be major coup for tourism sector under $1.2bn commonwealth support package

INTERSTATE tourists are expected to flock to Alice Springs and Uluru under a $1.2bn federal government lifeline for the industry

INTERSTATE tourists are expected to flock to Alice Springs and Uluru under a $1.2bn federal government lifeline for the industry that includes slashing airfares to the hardest hit regions in half.

Under the Morrison government’s new tourism-targeted COVID-19 recovery package, flights to and from major state capitals to the Territory’s tourism hubs of Alice Springs and Uluru will be increased and airfares halved between April and July to get Australians travelling again.

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Tourists from across Australia will be able to secure half-priced airfares to Uluru, where Pyndal Camel Tracks is located. Picture: Tourism NT/Matt Cherubino

The $1.2bn support package, which includes loans for small business and direct support to the aviation industry, is designed to support the pandemic ravaged tourism industry as the JobKeeper wage subsidy comes to an end.

“This is our ticket to recovery – 800,000 half price airfares to get Australians travelling and supporting tourism operators, businesses, travel agents and airlines who continue to do it tough through COVID-19, while our international borders remain closed,” Prime Minister Scott Morrison said. “This package will take more tourists to our hotels and cafes, taking tours and exploring our backyard.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison (right) with the Treasurer Josh Frydenberg. NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Alice Springs and Uluru are two of 13 initial tourism hot spots included in the program, with the regions picked based on their dependence on fly-in tourists from April to July.

The number of discounted airfares offered per route will be demand driven, with the government estimating an average of 46,000 cheap fares will be made available directly from airlines starting April 1.

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The commonwealth’s latest support package will include;

• Expanding and extending a loan scheme to keep pandemic-hit small business afloat, including increasing loans from $1m to $5m.
• Financially support Qantas and Virgin in order to keep international flight crew in work and ready to deploy when international borders reopen, as early as October 31.
• Covering the cost of ground handlers maintaining their mandatory training, certification, and accreditation.