The Minister for Tourism, Martin Ferguson AM MP, has welcomed a new report from Tourism Research Australia highlighting the tourism industry's important economic impact across Australia.
Minister Ferguson said: "The report highlights how important tourism is for employment in Australia, with more than 850,000 people directly and indirectly employed by tourism related organisations during 2006-07, an increase of 40,000 jobs from the previous year."
A majority of the tourism-related jobs identified exist within industries typically associated with tourism. However, tourism demand also generated more than 200,000 jobs in other, less obvious industries, including property and business services, agriculture, wholesale, finance and insurance, construction and communication industries.
Produced annually by Tourism Research Australia, Tourism's contribution to the Australian economy 1997-98 to 2006-07 highlights both the direct and indirect impacts of tourism on the Australian Economy.
Minister Ferguson said: "This report shows tourism contributes $67.8 billion, or 6.5 per cent, of Australia's Gross Domestic Product.
"And although domestic tourism visitor numbers have remained relatively flat throughout the past few years, domestic visitor consumption expenditure increased by $4.0 billion in 2006-07, which is good news for the industry."
For more information or to download the report, Tourism's contribution to the Australian economy 1997-98 to 2006-07, visit www.tra.australia.com.