ANSWERS WANTED: Operator remains in dark over $33K owed

TOUR operators across the region remain in the dark about hundreds of thousands of dollars owed to them despite expectations the funds would be repaid months ago.

Apollo Whitsundays owner Rick Mark spoke out against travel booking company Adventium Technology Group in March, saying they owed him and other tourism operators for tours conducted earlier in the year.

The company organised the ticketing and booking for operators and took payments that were then passed on at a later date through their platform WebsiteTravel.

In a statement on the Adventium Technology Group Pty Ltd website in April, managing director Andrew Cox said they "will be suspending payments to all agents, operators, suppliers and customers" with hopes of ensuring all outstanding payments were made in early May.

However, Mr Mark said he was yet to receive any payments or firm answers on when he can expect the funds he was owed.

Mr Mark estimated he was owed about $33,000 while owner of Red Cat Adventures Julie Telford earlier said her businesses was out of pocket about $161,000.

Mr Mark said the money owned across the Whitsundays was placing further pressure on an already struggling industry.

"That money, that has been held up for no real reason that we've been given, is stuff we need to survive as businesses, not just personally," he said.

"We've got to try and keep doors open for when (coronavirus) turns around.

"That's the difference between doing it tough and doing it real tough."

Since April, Mr Mark said he received several emails from Adventium Technology Group stating the company was still working toward repaying operators.

However, he said there was still "a complete lack of answers" on when that would be and was concerned he may never receive the money owed.

With no solid response from the company, Mr Mark contacted the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.

A spokesman from the ACCC said "the ACCC is aware of the issues raised by Mr Mark and (are) making inquiries."

The Whitsunday Times contactedASIC who said they did not comment on complaints made.

The ASIC website also states the organisation "does not get involved in disputes about unpaid debts, nor do we intervene if a small proprietary company is experiencing financial difficulty."

In the meantime, Mr Mark remains in the dark about whether he will ever see the money processed by Adventium more than three months ago.

"All it means is that we can pay our bills and it gives us breathing space, from my point of view, for another three or four months," he said.

"Otherwise I'm just digging into savings and hoping the stars align and the gods favour me."

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A statement on the Adventium Technology Group website from April 9 by managing director Andrew Cox said the company had appointed Henslow to undertake a $12 million capital raise to "ensure the survival of the WebsiteTravel platform."

However, there have been no further updates provided on the website since this announcement.

The Whitsunday Times attempted to contact Adventium Technology Group for comment but did not receive a response in time for publication.