The Minister for Tourism, Martin Ferguson AM MP, has announced the fourth and final instalment of the Australian Government's $4 million response to the Qantas Group's reduction in airline service between Cairns and Japan.
Speaking in Cairns, Minister Ferguson said $1.35 million will be spent on further marketing and business development initiatives to support tourism quality, Indigenous tourism, and greater airline capacity to Japan.
Minister Ferguson said: "Tourism is vitally important to North Queensland. It provides $2 billion to the local economy annually and supports 16,000 jobs.The Australian Government's support for tourism initiatives will assist the region in the short-term and ensure it can meet future challenges.
"The Government has sought to identify long-term and sustainable solutions for a vibrant Tropical North Queensland tourism industry and this package will help local operators adapt to - and capitalise upon - the changes taking place within their industry."
The Australian Government's support package has been developed in close consultation with industry, Tourism Queensland, Tourism Tropical North Queensland and Jim Turnour, Member for Leichhardt.It has funded significant international marketing, research into changing consumer demand, and programs exploring other regional development opportunities such as Indigenous tourism.
The final $1.35 million instalment of the Australian Government package will:
- Fund additional marketing to secure new air services linking Tropical North Queensland and Japan;
- Encourage development of local Indigenous tourism product and participation;
- Promote business participation in quality assurance programs; and
- Support outcomes recommended by research findings relating to future consumer demand for Tropical North Queensland.
Minister Ferguson said: "It is important to note the Australian Government's support for Tropical North Queensland is not a handout to the industry. What these measures have done, and will do, is help the industry get over the short-term shock of service changes and establish its long-term development.
"One of my goals as Tourism Minister is to establish a high-quality, resilient, tourism industry and this funding furthers this goal."