Thursday 25 March 2021
The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has welcomed the NSW Government's $51.5 million economic support package, which includes up to 200,000 accommodation vouchers worth $100 each.
ARA CEO Paul Zahra said the vouchers for hotel stays in the CBD will also provide a boost for retailers, who can look forward to increased foot-traffic around their businesses.
"Our CBDs are not the thriving places they once were pre-Covid and we need innovative ways to get people back supporting these hard-hit businesses," Mr Zahra said.
"The NSW Government's economic support package is an important first step towards revitalising the Sydney CBD. SMB retailers in the city are in deep pain with office attendance down, international borders still closed and JobKeeper about to end, so they need all the support they can get.
"The office occupancy rate in the Sydney CBD is less than 50% - it means there aren't as many people doing the things they would be normally, like grabbing a coffee from a nearby café, shopping during their lunch break or having dinner and drinks in the city after work.
"The hotel vouchers are a great way to encourage people back into the city, and it will have flow on benefits for retailers, with more people out and about enjoying the best of what Sydney has to offer.
"We thank the NSW Government for their leadership and focused support for businesses. We need to ensure all levels of government work together with industry and business to support the sectors still struggling with the after effects of Covid."
