Election approach shifts tourism concerns

Election approach shifts tourism concerns
By admin


While the exchange rate remained the number one concern for the tourism industry in the first quarter of 2013, the approach of the federal election is seeing taxation and government support for business events emerge as key concerns.

The latest Tourism and Transport Forum-Mastercard Tourism Industry Sentiment survey found that, with the dollar averaging US103.9 cents over the three month period, 63% of respondents listed the exchange rate as one of their top three concerns. The figure marks a rise of 10 percentage points from the previous quarter.

However, government policies regarding taxes and charges on tourists and government support to win business event bids rank second and third respectively.

TTF chief executive Ken Morrison conceded the importance of the dollar's strength, but stressed the impact of government policy frameworks on tourism.

"While the industry understands that government has negligible control over the exchange rate, governments do determine fees and charges levied on visitors and the level of support provided for business events bids," he said.

"The TTF-Mastercard Tourism Industry Sentiment Survey notes an increasing appetite to put tourism on the public and political agenda in the lead up to September's federal election, along with continuing concern about labour shortages – both skilled and unskilled."

Lack of convention and exhibition space and inadequate land transport links to airports were also identified as impediments.

 

 

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