Investment is key to driving tourism growth: TTF

Investment is key to driving tourism growth: TTF
By admin


Tourism to Tasmania is on the rise with the latest data showing international and interstate visitation was up 5% for the year ending September 2014, largely attributed to organisations pumping investment into the state.

An increase in marketing funds, investment in tourism products and greater connectivity combined to assist growth in visitation, according to Tourism & Transport Forum (TTF).

The latest Tasmanian Visitor Survey (TVS) for the year ending September also reported visitor nights were up 8% and expenditure increased by 15%.

“Whether it’s new products and experiences, increased aviation capacity or tourism marketing, investment to refresh your offer, provide better access and to let people know about your destinations are vital to the tourism mix,” TTF ceo, Margy Osmond said.

“This is best illustrated by the growth in holiday travel to the state, with Tasmania bucking the national trend to record outstanding growth in the holiday segment.

“While holiday travel nationally was flat for the year ending September, with overnight trips down 1%, nights down 3% and spending down 2%, Tasmania has recorded strong growth for the same period.

“Interstate and international holiday visitors rose by 20%, with nights up 18% and spending up 2% – a simply outstanding result.

“Tasmania should continue to see increasing visitation in the months to come, boosted by the additional profile delivered through hosting the Restaurant Australia gala event and the recent visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping, which showcased Tasmania to a massive audience throughout China,” Osmond said.

The state is also set to welcome additional investment in marketing by the Tasmanian government in 2015. 

“That is great news for Tasmania, which is Australia’s most tourism-dependent state, with tourism accounting for between 6.6 and 7.9% of total direct employment in the five electorates,” Osmond said.

“Tourism provides sustainable job and business opportunities across Tasmania and continuing government investment in tourism marketing and visitor infrastructure will foster additional investment by the private sector, helping to grow tourism’s contribution to the Tasmanian economy.”

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