MARTIN FERGUSON STEPHEN CONROY
Minister for Resources and Energy Minister for Broadband, Communications
Minister for Tourism and the Digital Economy
Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate
Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on
Digital Productivity
Senator for Victoria
The Economic Importance of Tourism in Australia’s Regions report released today by the Federal Minister for Tourism, Martin Ferguson reveals Phillip Island’s economy is one of the most tourism dependent regional economies in Australia.
The value of the tourism output on Phillip Island in 2007/08 was $391 million. This was 18.7 percent of the overall output from the region, making it the second most tourism dependent region in Australia after Central Northern Territory.
“Tourism is the lifeblood of many regional areas; it creates jobs where people live. Tourism is a source of employment in Phillip Island for many people including hospitality professionals, uni students, travellers, and older Australia’s looking for part-time employment,” said the Minister for Tourism, Martin Ferguson.
Tourism is a big part of Victoria’s economy more broadly. More than 56 million visitors came to the state last year creating an industry which supported almost 150,000 tourism-related businesses in Victoria.
“Phillip Island is rightly proud of its tourism industry,” said Senator for Victoria, Stephen Conroy.
“We know regional areas see 46 cents in every dollar of tourism spending. So our local industry isn’t just important to the people who work in it – it’s important to everyone who lives here.
“Phillip Island has been supported by the Australian Government through marketing campaigns such as Tourism Australia’s $150m global “There’s Nothing Like Australia” campaign.
“Uniquely Phillip Island experiences such as watching the penguins waddle ashore or seeing the world superbikes up close have been successfully marketed to both domestic and international visitors.
“Tourism businesses on Phillip Island have never had a better opportunity to mesh their new investments with the millions of dollars going into tourism campaigns at home and overseas.”
Tourism ministers from all jurisdictions meet in Darwin later this week to discuss a two-year work program to drive greater regional tourism industry resilience under the National Long-Term Tourism Strategy.
The Economic Importance of Tourism in Australia’s Regions is at www.ret.gov.au/tra