The
Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO) extends its congratulations to
Senator the Hon Don Farrell on his reappointment as Minister for Trade and
Tourism.
CATO
has valued the constructive and open relationship with Minister Farrell and his
office over the last term of government, which has included meaningful
collaboration on the development of key industry initiatives. Notably, the Reviving
International Tourism Grant (RITG) program, developed in 2023 and
concluding at the end of this month, provided targeted support for outbound
travel businesses as they rebuilt in the wake of the pandemic.
CATO
Managing Director, Brett Jardine, acknowledged the impact of the program and
the strong foundation it has helped establish for future growth.
“The
RITG program delivered much-needed support for CATO members at a crucial time.
It recognised the importance of Australia’s outbound travel sector and helped our
members to reconnect with international supply chains, drive investment in
innovation and build resilience as international travel resumed. We now look
forward to working with Minister Farrell on future initiatives that will
strengthen Australia’s outbound travel industry and its global
competitiveness,” said Jardine.
With
international travel demand continuing to grow, CATO remains committed to
working closely with the Minister and his Department to ensure Australian tour
operators and wholesalers are well-supported, future-ready, and positioned to
lead in the global tourism landscape.
