Abbott backlash spreads throughout industry
Australia's peak tourism bodies were up in arms against the Federal Government’s new Industry, Innovation and Competitive agenda, calling it “underwhelming” for tourism and “deeply disappointing” raising the issue for appointing a tourism minister.
Tourism & Transport Forum (TTF) CEO, Margy Osmond was one of the first to speak out against the agenda, saying the tourism sector had been given the “cold shoulder” after missing out on potential benefits in one of Australia’s key economic development strategies.
“Tourism generated more than $100 billion in expenditure across Australia last year and $30 billion in exports – our biggest services export – and the potential for growth is enormous, with global spending on travel expected to grow from US$6.6 trillion in 2012 to US$10.5 trillion in 2023,” Osmond said.
Meanwhile, ATEC also raised concerns saying the new agenda shows that the federal government has “thoroughly ignored” the success of Australia’s tourism industry and its contribution of export tourism.
“It is extraordinary that, in outlining its plan to ‘seize new opportunities’, the Abbott Government has completely overlooked the $30 billion and growing export tourism industry – one of our best bets for successful future growth,” ATEC Managing Director, Peter Shelley said.
“Export tourism is already our second largest service sector export earner and there is enormous potential to expand this even further given the growing demand from new markets in Asia.”
“This kind of supply-side support is a crucial plank in ensuring Australia is a competitive destination able to catch hold of the growing demand for international travel and it is disappointing we have been overlooked in the Government’s Agenda,” Shelley said.
Tourism directly employs more than 540,000 people in every part of Australia and according to Osmond, trumps it as the strongest sector when it comes to offering jobs spanning across the country.
“Few, if any, other industries provide the geographic spread of employment that tourism does, with TTF’s National Tourism Business Count & Employment Atlas showing there are at least 2400 direct tourism jobs in every single federal electorate across Australia – no other sector generates employment in as many parts of Australia as tourism.
According to the TTF, tourism accounts for 8% of all jobs across the nation, and despite having delivered from strong investment by the government, the industry body said it was “hard to understand” why tourism has not been prioritised in the latest agenda.
“This is despite four major reports by PwC, Deloitte, McKinsey and Outlook Economics all nominating tourism as a leader of the pack which is likely to deliver a greater return for Australia than other sectors,” Osmond said.
“Australia has a competitive advantage in tourism that can be leveraged to accelerate economic activity, yet the federal government has decided other sectors are of greater priority.”
Shadow Minister for Tourism, MP Anthony Albanese also added his comments to the table, saying it “has never been clearer” that there was “no effective advocate” for the tourism industry in Cabinet.
“Australia’s tourism sector deserves to be given priority on our national economic agenda and to be taken seriously by the Government,” Albanese said.
“Appointing a Tourism Minister would be a good place to start.”
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
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