The Minister for Tourism, Martin Ferguson AM MP, has urged the Australian tourism industry to look beyond the current economic woes and prepare for recovery.
Speaking at the Australian Tourism Export Council's annual Symposium in Darwin, Minister Ferguson said that despite the global financial crisis, the tourism industry is well placed to take advantage of economic recovery.
Minister Ferguson said: "There is no getting away from the global recession - 28 of the 30 most developed countries in the world are in recession and this has hit tourism hard. However, now is not the time to talk down the tourism industry; now is the time to prepare for the recovery. Moreover, there are numerous Australian Government initiatives which are assisting the tourism industry.
"In the next few weeks the last of the Australian Government's stimulus payments of up to $900 will be paid to 7.6 million people. As tourism depends on discretionary spending, the Government's $42 billion stimulus package will benefit tourism and associated industries in regions throughout Australia.
"The stimulus package also dovetails with Tourism Australia's No Leave No Life campaign which I launched on March 30, just a week before the first stimulus payments hit bank accounts. The No Leave No Life campaign encourages Australians to turn their 123 million days of accrued leave into a holiday at home to support our tourism industry and the 480,000 people it employs.
"Tourism Australia is also spending $90 million a year marketing Australia as an international tourist destination. Together these initiatives will help create demand for Australian tourism.
"There is no doubt that the current economic circumstances are the toughest the Australian economy has faced for quite some time but the tourism industry is not facing these challenges alone.
"Together, the measures I have outlined at ATEC's Symposium will enable the tourism industry to ride out the current economic downturn and be in the best position possible to capitalise on the recovery."