AAT Kings , the Australia and New Zealand guided holiday expert, has launched a collection of not-for-profit Bushfire Relief Giveback Experiences – a selection of Day Tours and Short Breaks across New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. The trips have been designed to help provide immediate support directly to tourism communities that have been affected by the recent devastating bushfires.
AAT Kings’ Bushfire Relief Giveback Experiences have been developed in collaboration with Australia’s #EmptyEsky campaign, and in conjunction with local communities. AAT Kings will transport guests and their empty cooler bags (what Australians call an “esky”) to visit local markets, stores and cafés in bushfire affected communities. Guests will have free time to wander through the town, spend time with the local shopkeepers and fill their cooler bags by purchasing locally made products. To enrich the experience, guests will also meet some of the locals who will tell stories of recovery and share firsthand how best to help these destinations.
All Bushfire Recovery Giveback trips are 100% not-for-profit for AAT Kings, and have been designed in collaboration with the local community to inject funds into small businesses and support farmers.
Matthew Cameron-Smith, Managing Director for AAT Kings, stated: “Having worked with Australian tourism operators for over 100 years, AAT Kings live and breathe these communities, and they need us now more than ever. We’ve worked with local businesses to bring much-needed benefit through the tourism economy directly back to restaurants, cafés, farmers markets and local stores, to help start providing immediate support to the regions that need it the most.”
Erin Boutros, Co-founder of Empty Esky, commented: “We are so excited to be partnering with AAT Kings to offer our community the opportunity to put their pledges into action and visit fire affected towns. Since the Empty Esky campaign launched, we have witnessed first-hand how powerful the Australian spirit is. The ‘Empty Esky’ trips will lead the way in effectively supporting bushfire affected towns as they recover.”
Cameron-Smith concludes, “The Australian nation and the world have been deeply affected as they’ve watched parts of the country and wildlife ravaged by the fires. We are so privileged to be able to take advantage of our experience and network, to facilitate bringing as many visitors as we can back to the most affected townships. Working in partnership is the best way that we know how to help, and we invite the UK travel industry to join us in supporting Australians to get back on their feet for the long-term.”
The first day trip, Bushfire Recovery Giveback Experience: #EmptyEsky to Shoalhaven will depart from Sydney this Friday, 24 January 2020.
Kangaroo Valley, the idyllic farming and tourism region south-west of Sydney in the Shoalhaven region, saw homes, property, sheds, fodder, wildlife and hundreds of hectares of land destroyed during the recent bushfires. The town has suffered a huge down turn in business during peak trading time, with an economic down turn predicted to follow as small businesses in the area have reported a 50% loss in projected earnings during the time of the fires.
The new Bushfire Recovery Giveback Experience will journey from Sydney to the Kangaroo Valley, and take in morning tea at a local café, before heading to Nowra Farmers Market. The market is jam packed with local farmers produce for guests to taste, purchase and fill up their #emptyesky, knowing every cent goes directly to the growers. Guests will then have the opportunity to meet with members of the community who have been affected by the bushfires, as they share stories of recovery over a locally sourced lunch, sharing stories with locals at Bangalay Dining.
