JUNE 2020 TRAVEL A GUIDING LIGHT FOR A BRIGHTBetter FUTURE Uniting the desire to get back to travel while making a positive impact, AAT Kings offers enriching experiences and much needed support to local communities. With the security of over 100 Years of experience and our global affiliation with TreadRight, you can feel confident AAT Kings will help your customersTravel Better. Earth Sanctuary, Alice Springs travelBulletin JUNE 2020 1 TRAVEL Better It’s time to pay homage to all we have to offer in our own backyard From Tassie to the Top End, Warrnambool to Wave Rock, Airlie to Alice and Kuranda to Kangaroo Island, a holiday TRAVEL WITH THE BEST with our expert Travel Directors with AAT Kings ensures your customers experience the very BOOKING CLARITY with TTC Future Travel Credits best of our great southern land – while supporting our local recovery. SUPPORTING LOCAL communities recover We’re here to guide you every step of the way. A TTC BRAND global family-owned For more information visit trade.aatkings.com or call our 100+ YEARS leading & supporting the industry experts on 1300 556 100. Yellow Water Billabong Cruise Kangaroo Island Wineglass Bay TOP END TASTES OF SOUTHERN PERFECT NDKD ESMA THLH HIGHLIGHTS Code: AUSTRALIA Code: TASMANIA Code: • Cruise the surrounding beauty of Katherine • Explore the iconic Great Ocean Road and • Circumnavigate Freycinet by boat to Gorge Twelve Apostles Wineglass Bay • Learn the significance of ancient Aboriginal • Enjoy two nights absorbing the beauty of • Enjoy time at leisure exploring Salamanca rock art in Ubirr Kangaroo Island Markets • Explore Litchfield National Park, then relax • Gain insight into Australian farming life at • Marvel at the beauty of Cradle Mountain with a dip in refreshing Wangi Falls Gold Creek Station National Park 6 DAY GUIDED HOLIDAY 11 DAY GUIDED HOLIDAY 12 DAY GUIDED HOLIDAY * * * From $2,225 pp twin share From $4,775 pp twin share From $5,875 pp twin share *Terms and Conditions apply: Prices advertised are per person twin share. For new bookings, subject to availability or until sold out. For full AAT Kings booking terms and conditions refer to 13981a www.aatkings.com/booking-conditons2 travelBulletin JUNE 2020 ATAS No. 10527c JUNE 2020 WHERE TO NOW FOR AFTA? PLUS CHECK OUT OUR SPECIAL SOUTH AUSTRALIA FEATURE INTRODUCING THE TRAVEL DAILY TRAINING ACADEMY A NEW SOLUTION TO GROW KNOWLEDGE IN THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY. We offer a service helping travel and tourism suppliers to develop and market a customisable online training platform. It’s cost efficient, scaleable, accessible 24/7 via tablet, mobile and desktop, and user friendly. Designed for suppliers that value travel agent learning, development and engagement, the Travel Daily Training Academy is an effective way to get your educational content into the hands of those that will drive your future sales. Visit our website HERE. CLICK HERE TO ENQUIRE 4 travelBulletin JUNE 2020 CONTENTS FEATURES 22 South Australia 12 With international travel on hold, now is the best time to experience South Australia on a road trip. COVER STORY 12 Where to now for AFTA? With the resignation of CEO Jayson Westbury, the hibernation of the ACS and no income for the organisation for the rest of the year, what is the future of the Federation? Steve Jones investigates. MONTHLY 02 State of the industry 08 Issues and trends 18 Cruise 30 Last word 18 22 COLUMNS 02 From the publisher 06 Steve Jones 09 AFTA View 21 CLIA View ©SATC This month’s contributors Steve Jones, Joel Katz, Tom Manwaring EDITORIAL ADVERTISING Suite 1, Level 2, 64 Talavera Rd Editor in Chief and Publisher – Bruce Piper National Sales Manager Macquarie Park NSW 2113 Australia Lisa Maroun PO Box 1010 Epping NSW 1710 Australia Editorial and Production Manager – Ph: 0405 132 575 or 02 8007 6760 Tel: 1300 799 220 (+61 2 8007 6760 Sarah Beyer [email protected] Ph: 1300 799 220 or 02 8007 6760 [email protected] ART www.travelbulletin.com.au Design – Sarah Beyer 6,8305,355 Avg Net Distribution per Issue travelBulletin is part of the This publication is independently audited under the AMAA's Editorial team – Myles Stedman, Jasmine CAB Total Distribution Audit. Business Publishing Group Reporting Period: 161 Apr Apr 2018 2016 to – 3116 MarSep 20192016 - Publisher Hanna, Adam Bishop Publishing Director – Jenny Piper Statement family of publications travelBulletin JUNE 2020 1 STATE OF THE INDUSTRY WHAT a difference a month of respect and recognition, From the makes. The May issue and we, like the wider of travelBulletin was full industry, have valued his of news about what AFTA ongoing contributions to our publisher had been doing, with publications. Bruce Piper Jayson Westbury taking Unfortunately Jayson’s the industry’s issues to comments about TV host the top, the COVID-19- Tracy Grimshaw were forced shutdown of the indefensible and the AFTA AFTA Chargeback scheme Board understandably felt and efforts to bring some they had no choice but to positivity to mainstream accept his resignation. media coverage. The industry reeled – but But then while he was then rallied – in the days in full stride came the after his departure. AFTA bombshell of Westbury’s Chairman Tom Manwaring shock resignation, with has stepped into the breach, many in the industry and is now engaging with wondering whether the bureaucrats daily to highlight Federation can recover the unique position we are from the loss of such a all under due to COVID-19 passionate figurehead. and border closures. As I wrote in Travel Daily The AFTA Board has united the day after he stepped in its ongoing efforts on aside, Jayson will be sorely behalf of the industry, while missed. His skills enabled the team in the Federation’s him to work right across the head office have stepped spectrum – from high level up to continue Westbury’s ministerial meetings and advocacy and engagement lobbying on the international both with AFTA members stage, right through to and the wider travel sector. dealing with the individual Our cover story this month concerns of small agencies. from Steve Jones canvasses Under his leadership the the vexed question of AFTA’s National Travel Industry future in the post-Westbury Awards reached new heights world. It’s a cracker. Domestic Aussie specialists less familiar. IN “Alongside the great work of the states BRIEF TOURISM Australia is supporting Australian and territories, the Aussie Specialist travel agents as they pivot to the new normal, Program will equip frontline sellers with opening up the Aussie Specialists training updated destination information and news program to local participants for the first to encourage Aussie travellers to explore time. Tourism Australia MD Phillipa Harrison the many great destinations and tourism said the initiative aimed to help agents sell experiences that Australia has to offer,” she Australian tourism experiences, and also to said. “We know that Australians also spent introduce domestic travellers to destinations almost $65 billion in overseas trips last and experiences with which they might be year so if we are able to encourage them to 2 travelBulletin JUNE 2020 spend some of their holiday dollars in Australian instead, CROATIAN PM VISITS ECLIPSE it will really help our tourism THE helicopter industry on its road to landing deck of recovery – and travel agents Scenic Eclipse was will have an important role to the perfect spot for play in this,” Harrison added. an historic meeting last month between FCTG sells St Kilda Andrej Plenkovic, FLIGHT Centre’s scramble Prime Minister of If we“ are Croatia and Scenic’s to boost liquidity amid the travel demand downturn able to Captain James has seen it sell its Victorian encourage Griffiths (pictured). A private tour of office for $62.15 million. them to Operations will continue at the 228-passenger the same location, however, spend some Discovery Yacht – its under a lease-back deal for of their sailing currently paused in Croatia – followed a video call about 75% of the floor space. between the PM and Scenic Group Chairman Glen Moroney The move was part of a holiday to celebrate Scenic’s commitment to build five new custom frantic month of activity for dollars in vessels in the Rijeka shipyard through its wholly owned Flight Centre, which also Australian subsidiary MKM Yachts. Scenic Eclipse II is currently came under heavy fire for under construction, with four more to follow by 2026. its refund and cancellation instead, it policy. Ultimately the will really company backflipped and help our confirmed it would waive all in late April. The Bain bid which may be used in cancellation fees where third tourism involves former Jetstar CEO subsequent civil and criminal party suppliers had cancelled industry on Jayne Hrdlicka, while Cyrus proceedings”. has an association with Virgin The formal Second Report due to COVID-19. its road to Early last month the founder Richard Branson, to Creditors from Aston company also confirmed it recovery – having backed Virgin America Chace Group also confirms was on target for significant and travel and the 2019 Flybe takeover. the administrators have cost reductions, with the Deloitte is hoping to probed allegations the massive store closure agents will expedite the process which company manipulated airline program and other cuts have an hopefully will see Virgin ramp booking classes to delay the coming in at less than the important up its flights, but any hold- issuance of tickets. $210 million in on-off costs ups could see the carrier Fly365.com ceased trading originally anticipated. role to play liquidated as it’s understood late in February, with the report in this the company’s cash is fast estimating unsecured creditors running out. worth almost $27 million Virgin shortlist including just under $18 THE administrators of Virgin Phillipa” Fly365 directors face million to the Commonwealth Australia have put the pedal Harrison, Bank, $3.1 million to Air to the metal on the carrier’s Managing alleged fraud claims Tickets and $2.6 million sale, soliciting a shortlist of Director, THE directors of collapsed owed to about 1,000 clients.