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They may have gone through some tough times but that looks to be clearing for smoother waters as Launceston Travel and Cruise Centre steadies during COVID-19. The pandemic has hit the travel industry hard, with restrictions forcing operators to bunker down and help clients with refunds for trips which were disrupted due to the pandemic. Launceston Travel and Cruise Centre co-owners Baden and Andrew Brown can attest to this experience after COVID caused a 90 per cent downturn in business for the local company. Read more: Aussies urged to take regional holiday with ease of restrictions The brothers main mission is to help clients obtain refunds for trips cancelled due to COVID but they are hopeful of a return to normality soon. "All our work for the last twelve months since COVID hit has been revolved around securing refunds for clients, pretty much we've been working for 12 months for no cost," he said. Read more: Look at 80+ photos of all the fashion and faces at Launceston Cup races "We're reliant on the borders in Australia staying open and then waiting for the borders from other countries to open, we're waiting and hoping to see places like New Zealand and the South Pacific open first." The company estimates that they can keep going for another year to 18 months with no issues if the status-quo remains but feel assured that the appetite to hit the water will remain after COVID. Read more: First COVID-19 vaccines rolled out in Tasmania "We're getting a lot of feedback from clients saying they can't wait to get out and travel ... interestingly they were very keen to get back into cruising which has taken a big hit," Mr Brown said. Government subsidy JobKeeper has been crucial in helping the business maintain operation during the past year. "Jobkeeper has been a necessity and a lifeline for us, without that things here would have been completely different for us as a business," he said.
Launceston Travel and Cruise Centre co-owner Baden Brown is confident the local travel business can survive the pandemic. Picture: Supplied.
They may have gone through some tough times but that looks to be clearing for smoother waters as Launceston Travel and Cruise Centre steadies during COVID-19.
The pandemic has hit the travel industry hard, with restrictions forcing operators to bunker down and help clients with refunds for trips which were disrupted due to the pandemic.
Launceston Travel and Cruise Centre co-owners Baden and Andrew Brown can attest to this experience after COVID caused a 90 per cent downturn in business for the local company.
The brothers main mission is to help clients obtain refunds for trips cancelled due to COVID but they are hopeful of a return to normality soon.
"All our work for the last twelve months since COVID hit has been revolved around securing refunds for clients, pretty much we've been working for 12 months for no cost," he said.
"We're reliant on the borders in Australia staying open and then waiting for the borders from other countries to open, we're waiting and hoping to see places like New Zealand and the South Pacific open first."
The company estimates that they can keep going for another year to 18 months with no issues if the status-quo remains but feel assured that the appetite to hit the water will remain after COVID.
"We're getting a lot of feedback from clients saying they can't wait to get out and travel ... interestingly they were very keen to get back into cruising which has taken a big hit," Mr Brown said.
