ATA: Tourism industry thinks they, like bushfire survivors, need government aid

THE Australian Taxpayers’ Alliance, the nations largest grassroots advocacy group representing taxpayers, today recommended against giving the tourism industry government handouts to make up for their lost profits during the China travel ban. 

“A travel ban is instituted. Less than a week later the tourism industry has begun begging for government funding like a kid in a toy store begging for a chinpokomon because his friend Stan has one," ATA policy director, Emilie Dye said.

“Farmers have received subsidies after suffering for years in a government made drought. Bushfire survivors have received aid after losing everything to the fires. I don’t think travel agencies quite make the cut?” Ms Dye said. “The taxpayers don’t need to subsidise every industry facing hard times.

“It seems the tourism industry has forgotten the primary rule of investing: diversify, diversify, diversify. They put all their bats in one basket and now they have come home to roost. Travel agencies still have 194 countries they can do business with. 

“The taxpayers are not responsible for poor business practices in the tourism industry. By not subsidising an industry, we force them to be better. No one said going into business was easy.”

www.taxpayers.org.au

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