Tickets will go on sale in coming weeks for discounted return airfares from Melbourne to Cairns, Gold Coast, Maroochydore, Alice Springs, Uluru, Devonport, Burnie, Launceston, Broome and Merimbula.The government is expecting to subsidise the cost of about 800,000 fares, with the money paid directly to airlines including Qantas, Virgin and Jetstar so that holiday-makers can easily book at discounted rates for travel between April 1 and July 31.Travellers from the Gold Coast and Sydney will also be able to claim half-price flights into Avalon, in what the government hopes will boost Victorian tourism operators.Meanwhile, about 40,000 travel vouchers to spend on Melbourne hospitality and accommodation businesses will be up for grabs on Friday morning.Based on the popular regional travel voucher scheme, the $200 vouchers are part of a $10 million “circuit breaker support package” to deal with the effects of pandemic shutdowns.They can be used in 26 council areas across metropolitan Melbourne, with holders needing to spend $400 or more on accommodation, attractions or experiences.At least two nights must be spent in paid stays during an eight-week periodbetween March 19 and May 16.The long-awaited package, supporting businesses affected by the JobKeeper wage subsidy scheme ending in three weeks, also includes government-backed loans of up to $5m for struggling businesses and direct grants to airlines to keep 8600 staff in work before overseas flights are cleared for takeoff. Scott Morrison said the half-price flights were the “ticket to recovery” for Australia’s $100bn domestic travel industry.“This package will take more tourists to our hotels and cafes, taking tours and exploring our backyard,” the Prime Minister said.“That means more jobs and investment for the tourism and aviation sectors as Australia heads towards winning our fight against COVID-19 and the restrictions that have hurt so many businesses.”“Our tourism businesses don’t want to rely on government support forever. They want their tourists back.”Tourism Minister Dan Tehan called on Australians to “do their patriotic duty” and book a domestic holiday.More than 350,000 businesses still relying on JobKeeper will be eligible for the loan scheme, which provides finance that can be paid off over 10 years with a 24-month repayment holiday.It is an expansion of an existing $40bn program that has only supported 35,000 loans so far worth $3bn. Businesses will now be allowed to use the loans to refinance their existing borrowings with lower repayments and longer terms.Several existing pandemic support programs are also being extended, including waivers of air services and security fees for airlines, international freight aid, one-off grants for travel agents, and cash for struggling zoos, aquariums and wildlife parks.Josh Frydenberg said the measures would “keep planes in the air” and assist domestic tourism.“We know there are sectors and regions across the country that are continuing to do it tough, which is why we will continue to support the economy with proportionate, timely, scalable and targeted assistance,” the Treasurer said.half price flights
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