Trashed survey sparks new calls for Tourism Minister
The Survey of Tourist Accommodation was reportedly binned before making its way to Trade Minister Andrew Robb for advice, prompting renewed calls to appoint a Minister for Tourism.
Shadow Tourism Minister, Anthony Albanese released a statement yesterday claiming Robb admitted his colleagues trashed the survey which was “relied upon by potential tourism investors” before even seeking his advice.
According to Albanese, in the months since the survey was abolished, “Robb has failed to have the funding reinstated” despite industry “warnings” that the sector is “exposed to unacceptable uncertainty without it”.
Robb replied “no” in writing to Albanese when questioned if he was informed prior to the decision handed down by the Australian Bureau of Statistics in June.
“It is clear that Mr Robb is not willing to fight for the needs of Australia’s tourism industry.”
“Tony Abbott should appoint a Minister for Tourism who will”, Albanese said.
The Survey of Tourist Accommodation had been running for over 40 years and was said to have provided “essential information” for investors and assisting Australia’s 280,000 tourism businesses with planning and decision-making.
“It’s hard to say Australia is open for business without providing the basic tools that allow potential investors to assess the market and make sound decisions,” The Tourism and Transport Forum stated upon the announcement in June of scrapping the survey.
“It is bad enough that Andrew Robb has no idea when key developments affecting an industry he purports to represent occur,” Albanese said.
“It is worse that after the decision was made he has repeatedly refused to back our tourism sector, nominated by Deloitte as a key driver of jobs and prosperity over the next 20 years.”
“Robb has spent the last year justifying his Government’s abandonment of the industry, which employs one million Australians, claiming to have been working hard to secure foreign investment for major projects,” Albanese said.
“One year later, there is little to show for it.”
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
abbott albanese andrew robb anthony albanese the survey of tourist accommodation tourism ministerLatest News
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