ACTA is appealing to travel advisors to participate in a survey on the financial sustainability of the trade sector and what it will look like without expanded and enhanced aid past JUN.
The deadline to submit a response is Friday, 09APR at 8 p.m. EST.
ACTA will share survey results with the federal government, in the hopes of demonstrating the success of the Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program (HASCAP) loan.
The association also hopes to identify the roadblocks or gaps with regards to travel agencies and independent advisors accessing federal and provincial financial relief programs.
“This is essential as the data is invaluable during our critical advocacy activities underway leading up to the release of the federal budget on April 19,” said Wendy Paradis, President, ACTA.
Agency owners, independent agents and travel agents can fill out the survey here:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VRL39P2
Alghabra Reticent on Supporting Travel Recovery
ACTA says it met with Transport Minister Omar Alghabra last week to discuss a roadmap for recovery for the travel and tourism sector.
Although the Minister acknowledged that travel has been hit hardest for a variety of reasons including government measures and restrictions, he cautioned that the government will not roll out a plan for the recovery of travel until it is safe to do so.
“He agrees that where initially a broad brush was used for financial aid supports for all, it is clear now there is a continued need for sectoral support and that this is being worked on now,” Paradis said, adding that the government determining which support measures will be needed in the short-medium term that are tailored to support the travel and tourism sectors.
The association also reiterated its advocacy call for:
- the extension and expansion of the CEWS and CERS programs
- the extension of the CRB and EI programs
- easier accessibility to liquidity within the HASCAP loan program
- protection of travel agency/travel agent commissions from recall with mandatory consumer refunds
