The Northern Territory government has been blamed for the failure of Darwin travel agency Travelworld by owner Sandra Lew Fatt.
The agency had relied heavily on government business until a policy change earlier this year which means the NT government now uses interstate travel companies to book trips. As of July 1, it now exclusively uses Qantas Business Travel and FCM Travel Solutions, a corporate subsidiary of Flight Centre Travel Group.
The shift was in order to provide greater accountability in response to public concerns over its travel arrangements.
However, Lew Fatt says the loss of the revenue stream has made it increasingly difficult for her business to survive, the ABC reports.
As a result, she will close her business in two weeks.
“It’s very frustrating and I feel I have been forced into that situation,” she told the ABC.
“Every locally owned and operated agent in town has been affected by it, but particularly ones like ourselves who employ Territorians.”
Northern Territory chief minister Adam Giles insists the policy delivers better value for money and greater accountability, while eliminating the possibility of any rorting of its bookings.
However, Labor has pledged to return to using NT travel agents if it wins the next NT election.
Main image credit: ABC
