The Minister for Tourism, Martin Ferguson AM MP, today released the Jackson Report produced by the Long Term Tourism Strategy Steering Committee and thanked Committee members for their work.
Minister Ferguson said: "The Jackson Report, which I received yesterday, will be considered as a valuable contribution to the ongoing development of the National Long-Term Tourism Strategy, which will be finalised later this year.
"The Steering Committee has worked hard to develop this Report, meeting ten times and consulting widely across the industry and government.
"I would like to thank the Chair, Ms Margaret Jackson AC, who guided the development of this Report, for her outstanding personal contribution and for ensuring that industry and state and territory governments were consulted closely.
"As requested by me, the report canvasses a number of important supply side issues such as research, skills and workforce, investment, and product development and innovation.
"I would also like to thank the members of the Steering Committee for the work they have undertaken in developing their Report: Mr Christopher Brown, Ms Kayleen Collins, Mr Saul Eslake, Mr Matthew Hingerty, Mr Gregory Hywood, Ms Karen Jacobs, Mr Jeff Kennett AC and Ms Jenny Lambert.
"The tourism industry's contribution to the Australian economy is immense, with the sector generating more than $40 billion in Gross Domestic Product and directly employing around half a million people.
"The Government and the industry need to focus on improving productive capacity and international competitiveness."
The Jackson Report is available at www.ret.gov.au.