Vic tourism, events bodies to merge

Vic tourism, events bodies to merge

Victoria will merge all its major events and tourism bodies into one in a bid to attract jobs and visitors.

The state has more independent bodies responsible for attracting visitors than any other state or country.

“There is duplication, there is isolation, there are inefficiencies,” Premier Daniel Andrews said on Wednesday.

“We need a single unified voice to sell the strengths of our state.”

Mr Andrews said if every visitor to Victoria stayed one extra night it would add $2 billion a year to the state’s economy.

“We’re going to bring every aspect of tourism, marketing and major events under the one roof with one body to get these systems working together,” he said.

The Victoria Tourism Industry Council said one body would deliver more cohesion on the ground, linking transport, infrastructure and information to increase visitor satisfaction, length of stay and spending.

Victoria’s nine overseas government business offices will also be expanded to 12, with more women commissioned to bring business to the state.

“I hope we’re going to see some younger people in these roles as well,” Mr Andrews said.

Those commissioned will have to hit targets for jobs, investment and businesses through the door.

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said public targets were “fine”, but that wouldn’t stop jobs moving interstate.

“The majority of business in this state that’s being poached is not being poached by people from China or Malaysia or business offices in Germany,” Mr Guy said.

“It’s actually coming from competition like Adelaide, or Brisbane, or Sydney.”

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