MARTIN FERGUSON SID SIDEBOTTOM
Minister for Resources and Energy Member for Braddon
Minister for Tourism
The Economic Importance of Tourism in Australia’s Regions report released today by the Federal Minister for Tourism, Martin Ferguson reveals the West Coast economy is one of the most tourism dependent regional economies in Australia.
The value of the tourism output to the West Coast in 2007/08 was $102 million. This was 16.2 percent of the overall output from the region, making it the fifth most tourism dependent region in Australia after Central Northern Territory, Phillip Island, Whitsundays and the Snowy Mountains.
“Tourism is the lifeblood of many regional areas; it creates jobs where people live. Tourism is a source of employment on the West Coast 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.
“Tasmania’s West Coast is rightly proud of its tourism industry,” Member for Braddon, Sid Sidebottom said.
“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.
“Tourism is a vital part of Tasmania’s economy more broadly. More than 6.6 million visitors came to the state last year creating an industry which supports more than 11,000 tourism-related businesses
“The West Coast of Tassie has been supported by the Australian Government through marketing campaigns such as Tourism Australia’s $150m global “There’s Nothing Like Australia” campaign.
“Must-do West Coast experiences such as visiting the West Coast Pioneers Museum have been successfully marketed to both domestic and international visitors.
“Tourism businesses on the West Coast 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 resilience under the National Long-Term Tourism Strategy.
The Economic Importance of Tourism in Australia’s Regions is at www.ret.gov.au/tra