AFTA backs government’s coronavirus tracing app

Portrait of young woman using laptop at cafe wearing  face protective mask to prevent infectious diseases

The Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA) has thrown its support behind the federal government’s new COVIDSafe app.

The app, which uses Bluetooth signals to identify people who have been in contact with someone who has COVID-19, was rolled out on Sunday and has been downloaded more than two million times.

Its aim is to speed up the current manual process of finding people who may have been exposed to the virus.

The government has said it is not mandatory to download the app, but it could play a big role in slowing the spread of COVID-19 and may lead to a faster way for the country to get back on track.

According to AFTA, if the app is successful and is accepted widely, Australia may be able to return to normal life more quickly, including the return of travel.

“While we do understand it is a personal choice to download the app, AFTA supports the government via this measure if its application brings forward the date of travel restrictions being lifted,” CEO Jayson Westbury said.

“What we all want for Australians is the return to normal life and what we want for the travel industry is for people to have the freedom to travel, and it seems to us that this app may be a step in the right direction to achieve both of these outcomes, as such we support the downloading of this app.”

AFTA said it hopes the travel industry will get behind the app and suggested travel agents could recommend it to clients in any COVID-19 updates they provide.

You can read more about the app here.

Featured image credit: iStock.com/filadendron

Latest News

  • Destinations
  • News

APT Launches 2025 Asia Adventures

APT has launched its Asia Adventures for 2025, including new luxury holidays in India, Sri Lanka and Japan. Five new tours lead guests to the highlights of India, including a seven-night cruise along the rarely travelled Lower Ganges aboard the Ganges Voyager. Further south, Sri Lanka’s greatest destinations are revealed on a new 15-day Land […]

  • Cruise
  • Luxury
  • News

Seabourn announces Western Kimberley Traditional Owners as Godparents of Seabourn Pursuit

Seabourn has named Western Kimberley Traditional Owners, the Wunambal Gaambera, as Godparents of the ultra-luxury purpose-built Seabourn Pursuit. It is the first cruise line to appoint Traditional Owners as godparents of a ship. Seabourn Pursuit embarks on its inaugural season in the Kimberley region this June. The naming ceremony will take place on Seabourn Pursuit’s […]

  • Luxury

Malolo Island Resort opens brand new Spa

Fiji’s Malolo Island has added another string to its bow – opening its $1.3 million day spa on Thursday, 18th April 2024. (Lead Image: matriarch Rosie Whitton with spa staff) Located at the edge of the resort’s luscious patch of tropical rainforest, the new “Leilani’s Spa” adds another level of elevated experiences to Malolo’s already […]