Death of the travel agent: Covid-19 an existential threat for an industry without 'any product to sell'

Many Australian travel agencies report zero revenue' since the pandemic began, prompting fears they won't be able to recover

Travel agencies are facing an existential threat" as continuing border closures mean they don't have any product to sell", with business analysts predicting the phasing out of government wage subsidies is likely to mean mostly larger agencies survive.

However, some travel agencies, despite reporting zero revenue" since the pandemic began and having to pay back fees for cancelled holidays, hope that - by sparing their clients lengthy phone calls with airlines by negotiating refunds on their behalf - they will have demonstrated their value to customers eager to travel when restrictions allow it.