Australia Bushfire Update – Support Australia through Travel
The news coming from Australia is overwhelming and it’s hard to know what to think. This is particularly true for travelers with trips booked to visit this great country in the near (or even distant) future. The agency I am affiliated with and one of our travel partners wrote this article to hopefully help answer some questions you might have…
All across the world, people stand in solidarity with Australians in the midst of the heartbreaking bushfires that have spread across parts of the country. At Goway and TPI, we extend our deepest sympathies to the families and communities affected. We hope for an end to the fires and a speedy recovery for the impacted townships and natural landscapes. We also commend the fearless efforts of first responders who are combating the fires and working to restore their communities.
Some have voiced concern over whether Australia remains safe for travel at this time. To that end, we must stress that while the seriousness of the bushfires in Australia has not been overstated, many parts of the country of interest to international tourists are unaffected and remain open for travel.
To be specific, some key regional areas in New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia, including western Kangaroo Island, have been affected and are currently not recommended for travellers. However, many previously affected regions have since re-opened to tourism. For instance, touring of the Blue Mountains in New South Wales has resumed and Kangaroo Island is also still accepting visitors in the unaffected eastern towns of the island.
Please know that our primary concern is ensuring the health, safety, and well-being of our travellers, whether in Australia or elsewhere. We are constantly monitoring the bushfire situation in conjunction with our Sydney office and local partners and have been proactively contacting and successfully relocating all the travellers whose plans have been immediately impacted by these fires.
If you are booked to travel Downunder in the near future, reach out to your Travel Advisor to assist you by answering any of your questions and concerns or by making any necessary modifications to your clients’ vacation.
For up-to-date information on Australian weather and wildfires, check out the Australian Government’s Bureau of Meteorology, which provides weather updates for all parts of Australia, as well as the latest fire warnings.
TPI and Goway, value your safety above everything else. We also value supporting local communities in Australia in any way possible. We firmly believe that travel changes the world for the better. One major way to support Australia at this time is to travel to the country as planned and explore the many regions unaffected by the fires, where tourism is still open.
There’s so much to see and do in Australia and now is the perfect time to support it. Click here for ways you can help.