Albanese calls on Abbott to take tourism seriously

Albanese calls on Abbott to take tourism seriously
By admin


While Tony Abbott has neglected the potential of revenue brought to Australia by Chinese visitors, Shadow Minister for Tourism Anthony Albanese MP has stated that this market is too important to ignore.

Despite Abbott retracting support for Australia's tourism sector, forecasts by Tourism Australia have shown that the Chinese visitor market could generate up to $9 billion to Australia every year by 2020.

China is the Australian tourism industry's fastest growing and most valuable inbound market, with a record number of Chinese visitors boosting Australia's economy in 2013 by $4.8 billion. 

But since coming to office, the Abbott Government has systematically dismantled support for Australia's tourism sector, cutting grants and business advice that assisted Australia's 280,000 tourism businesses, and abolishing a long-running ABS survey relied upon by investors.

This month, Minister for Trade and Investment Adnrew Robb confirmed that Australia Week in China would not go ahead in 2015, with no sign of new tourism infrastructure speculated prior to election.

The Government has also abolished the national tourism accreditation framework (T-QUAL) instead of transferring it to the industry.

Reports published last week show Australia is slipping in the list of Chinese visitors' most searched-for destinations online, with the news coming as Chinese President Xi Jinping prepares to visit Canberra today to address the Australian Parliament.

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