PRESS RELEASE: Tour Guides Australia join industry calls for the Federal Government to reconsider its position on additional Qatar Airways flights

Tour Guides Australia fully supports calls from industry associations such as the Australia Tourism Export Council and the Council of Australian Tour Operators, who, like Tour Guides Australia, support Thrive 2030, Australia’s national strategy for the long-term sustainable growth of the visitor economy. An identified challenge in this strategy is increased international competition, particularly concerning airline routes.

Qatar Airways is ready to double its capacity in Australia. Tour Guides Australia see this as an immediate opportunity that will benefit professional tour guides, tourism operators and Australia’s visitor economy.

President of Tour Guides Australia, Leanne Saward, says, “Additional air capacity into Australia will provide immediate relief from high fares, boost the economy and create more jobs. With exchange rates favouring international visitors from Australia’s core international markets, the Federal government’s decision certainly impacts Australia’s international competitiveness as a destination.”

Australian Bureau of Statistic arrivals data for the year ending June 2023 show that international arrivals are down 37.3% from June 2019 to June 2023. Tour Guides Australia believes this figure will take an unnecessarily extended period to improve whilst the Federal government continues to lock out airlines ready to serve Australia now.