THE tourism industry has faced its toughest challenge across the past 18 months and now the Australian Tourism Industry Council (ATIC) is calling for the government’s support.

With COVID-19 closing international and state borders for the majority of the last year, plus extended lockdowns across a lot of Australia, those businesses that rely on tourists have been hanging on by a thread.

ATIC deputy chairman, Daniel Gschwind said the tourism industry still faced many challenges and needed support.