Domestic Flights Around Australia Will Be Half-Price To Encourage Aussies To Holiday At Home

The Australian government is trying to incentivise people to holiday around the country by launching a massive sale.

For three months, domestic flights to 13 select locations will be half-price.

The $1.2 billion funding package hopes to kickstart domestic tourism now that the coronavirus pandemic has eased in Australia.

The government has highlighted a little more than a dozen places that are usually tourist hotspots, including the Gold Coast, Cairns, the Whitsundays region, the Sunshine Coast, Uluru, Alice Springs, Launceston, Devonport, Burnie, Broome, Avalon, Merimbula and Kangaroo Island.

They are still sorting out the finer details, however it's believed as many as 46,000 seats will be heavily discounted every week with Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia.

The deal is expected to kick off at the beginning of next month and, just before you ask, it's not an April Fool's Joke.

According to the ABC, a flight from Melbourne to the Gold Coast could cost as little as $60 one way.

Scott Morrison reckons it's just the trick to get people criss-crossing the country again.

"This package will take more tourists to our hotels and cafes, taking tours and exploring our backyard," the Prime Minister said.

"Our tourism businesses don't want to rely on government support forever. They want their tourists back."

The government hasn't ruled out including more destinations in the program and insist the 13 places selected in the first round have the highest dependence on JobKeeper and tourism.

It's also been revealed the government will assist Qantas and Virgin to ensure 8,000 international staff are ready to go when borders reopen.

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack is hopeful the travel package will get people ready to fly the coup when it's safe to do so.

"We're also backing the workforces of our international airlines and the teams and infrastructure they need," he said. "So that when tourism takes off again and our borders reopen, our airlines are ready to go."

While the funding support will likely get Aussies excited at the prospect of dusting off their trusty suitcase, Labor wants the government to dig a little deeper.

The Opposition's Tourism spokesman Don Farrell said: "The Morrison Government is asking cash-strapped families to spend their money on saving Australia's tourism industry when it isn't prepared to do the same thing itself.

"With only 18 days until JobKeeper ends, businesses are making decisions about their future now. While an announcement might be on the horizon, support is long overdue and will be too late for many."

Featured Image Credit: Qantas

Topics: Australia

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Trending Journalist at LADbible. His first job was as a newsreader and journalist at the award winning Sydney radio station, Macquarie Radio. He was solely responsible for the content broadcast on multiple stations across Australia when the MH17, Germanwings and AirAsia disasters unfolded. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign.

@stewartperrie