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A note from Mike Hatton re: Smartraveller
Dear Industry Colleague
As you are aware, the Smartraveller initiative was launched by the Federal Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and AFTA in 2003.
The aim of this initiative is to ensure that fellow Australians travelling overseas receive the maximum amount of information available prior to departure in order to secure their safety whilst in various destinations abroad.
Smartraveller membership is part of the conditions of membership of AFTA and I am pleased that all AFTA members have signed on to the initiative. In addition, as you would be aware, the Government embarked on an extensive and ongoing campaign to alert travellers to the information sources available to them so that they were fully briefed before departing Australia.
Three years further on traveller surveys have indicated that 70 per cent of all passengers departing Australia are aware of the Smartraveller initiative and have either visited the Smartraveller website or, alternatively, sourced information in relation to the Smartraveller program. At this time the Smartraveller website now records 520,000 page views per week in every week of the year.
On an ongoing basis the Federal Government has committed a further $13.1 million in funding for the Smartraveller campaign up to June 30, 2010. Four million dollars of this funding will be spent in the first year on a new media campaign in order to further raise traveller awareness.
As Australians it is our prime concern to look after our fellow Australians who are also our clients, and ensure that they have the most up to date information in regard to their safety overseas and that the information is available to them at all times.
The purpose of this note is to thank each and every one of you for the support that you have given to this program which has resulted in this success.
AFTA remains committed to the Smartraveller program and remains a member of the Federal Government consultative group in relation to the program. The present Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Hon Teresa Gambaro, is committed to ongoing consultation with the industry and ongoing cooperation and support of the industry with the aim of continually refining and improving the program.
Thank you once again for all of your assistance.
With best regards
Mike
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