The Minister for Tourism, Martin Ferguson AM MP, launched almost $400,000 in tourism funding for two national projects. A National Tourism Planning Code will be developed along with business events management software to track business events performance across the country.
Minister Ferguson announced $227,000 in Australian Government funding for projects associated with the TQUAL Grants program. Additionally, Minister Ferguson welcomed the investment of a further $173,000 by the Tourism and Transport Forum (TTF).
The funding will assist TTF to develop and distribute the National Tourism Planning Code, which will provide a best practice guide for planning and approval authorities and give investors a standard frame of reference for planning approvals.
TTF also received a grant that will enable them to deliver a system that tracks the performance data from business events. This will give the sector a better understanding of supply and demand in the industry.
Minister Ferguson said: "This has been a good week for the tourism industry with the announcement of the Government's new tax plan. Ninety-three per cent of tourism businesses are small businesses that will get a head start on a lower company tax rate of 28 per cent from 2012-13 and will be able to immediately write off capital assets with a value up to $5000.
"And two weeks ago, I announced $4 million in Australian Government funding over the next four years towards the extension of the Approved Destination Status Scheme, which will make sure the China market continues to grow for us.'
Addressing the Tourism and Transport Forum's National Hotel & Tourism Industry Policy Summit in Sydney, Minister Ferguson also outlined measures to improve the industry's resilience by encouraging investment in hotels and airports.
Minister Ferguson said: "Airports are critical to Australia's tourism and transport infrastructure, nowhere more so than here in Sydney, the nation's biggest arrivals centre. The smooth operation of our airports, and the reliability of fuel supplies and other services to them, is absolutely vital to our tourism industry - shut down transport routes and you shut down tourism.
"In January this year I asked Sydney Airport, major jet fuel suppliers, airlines and infrastructure providers to advise me on the airport's jet fuel needs over the next 20 years.
'Today I welcome the decision by Caltex to proceed with the $20 million second phase upgrade to the Caltex jet fuel pipeline to be completed by late 2011. I also note Sydney Ports Corporation is continuing the development of a second bulk liquids berth in Port Botany which is estimated to be operational in late 2012 or early 2013.
"While these investments will give Sydney Airport greater jet fuel supply security over the next few years, additional jet fuel supply infrastructure will be needed in the long term. It is good to see industry as a whole working together and planning to make that happen.'
Minister Ferguson said: "Hotel development faces intense competition for land, capital, building materials and labour, especially in resource-rich areas. Finding investors is challenging, especially when they can often get better returns from residential and commercial property.'
Jones Lang LaSalle estimates, as at March 2010, there were over 2,200 hotel rooms under construction across 11 projects.
Minister Ferguson said: "While investment in accommodation across Australia has been steady, in areas such as Perth there is underinvestment.
"That is why, for the first time in our history, through the National Long-Term Tourism Strategy all tourism ministers have signed up to a cross-jurisdictional process to attract investment in hotels. Together, we'll assess the planning system, environmental regulations and building codes, and seek to remove barriers to investment.
"Access Economics estimates that every dollar invested in a new hotel will deliver triple the value in flow-on benefits. Hotels need to compete with manufacturing investments for State Government support.
'Through the National Long-Term Tourism Strategy, the Australian Government is building on our new $150 million global marketing campaign, There's Nothing Like Australia and working with industry and state and territory governments on supply side issues. That means focussing on product quality and accreditation, building a skilled and innovative workforce, investing in infrastructure, and making the most of our natural competitive advantages such as our landscapes and Indigenous and cultural heritage', Minister Ferguson said.
Tourism is a $41 billion industry and employs almost half a million Australians. It is Australia's largest services export and contributes 3.6 percent to GDP.