Australia tourism struggling to retain workforce

Saturday, August 27, 2022

Tourism and hospitality operators in northern Australia are asking for an increased federal focus on the challenges faced by the region, in the midst of major staff scarcities and stress across the industry.

Travel agents have opined that the pandemic is making foreign travel even more complicated. A severe workforce scarcity means that they cannot aid one and all through the process.

Dean Long, the chief executive of the Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA) said that the level of provisions that need to be provided to each customer, to steer the pandemic restrictions worldwide, is a really long and complex process.

He said that unfortunately, many agencies are compelled to turn customers away since they do not have the capacity to cater to the number of requests.

A travel agent on the NSW Mid North Coast said that he has not witnessed a demand like this in the past.

Bellingen’s Windsong Travel owner James Cracknell said that it has been really unrestrained. It is basically like going from a stop to 500 miles per hour! Mr.Cracknell’s before the pandemic workforce of 22 has now reduced to five, which is even lesser than the sector-wide deficiency of one-third of what is required.

Mr. Cracknell said that they are now desperate to get their workforce in adequate numbers to provide to tourist demand. International travelers out of Australia soared 270 per cent this year leading up to March 30.

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