AAT Kings launches not-for-profit Australian bushfire relief tours
Australia and New Zealand tours specialist AAT Kings has launched a collection of not-for-profit day tours and short breaks designed to provide immediate support to tourism communities that have been affected by the bushfires.
The Bushfire Relief Giveback Experiences are available across New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. They have been designed in collaboration with Australia’s #EmptyEsky campaign and in conjunction with local communities.
AAT Kings will take guests and their empty cooler bags (what Australian’s call esky) to local markets, stores and cafes in bushfires where they can fill their bags with locally made products.
Guests will also meet with locals, who can share first-hand the best way to help these destinations.
AAT Kings said all Bushfire Recovery Giveback trips are 100% not for profit. MD Matthew Cameron-Smith said: "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, added: "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."
The first day trip will depart this Friday to Kangaroo Valley, south-west of Sydney, where homes and wildlife were destroyed by fire. The town’s businesses have reported a 50% drop in projected earnings during the time of the fires.
More trips and short breaks to be announced in the coming week.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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