The Chair of the Tourism Ministers' Council (TMC), Martin Ferguson AM MP, has announced 41 practical actions to drive the implementation of the National Long-Term Tourism Strategy.
Speaking after their meeting today in Canberra, Minister Ferguson said the 41 measures were part of an investment in the long-term future of the tourism industry, benefiting everyone from the smallest tourism businesses through to the largest multinational companies.
The TMC committed $2.2 million to implement a number of measures over the next 18 months including:
- Seeking inclusion of chefs on the skilled occupations migration list
- Improving labour mobility by seeking support for national uniformity for Responsible Service of Alcohol qualifications
- Removing barriers to investment by seeking the inclusion of tourism in the Commonwealth Enterprise Connect Program
- Improving destination management planning, particularly through undertaking pilot projects and identifying gaps in research and dissemination
- Building stronger links with tourism transport planning through restructuring the National Tourism and Aviation Advisory Committee
- Supporting industry resilience by releasing the study of economic impacts of climate change on tourism; and
- Enhancing indigenous employment through identifying tourism program gaps and scoping out opportunities for inclusion of tourism in existing programs across Governments.
Minister Ferguson said: "This is an historic partnership between the Commonwealth and the States and Territories. Today's outcome, on top of my recent announcement of Australia's new $150 million global marketing campaign plus the ongoing commitment to tourism marketing by States and Territories, means that Australia now has an integrated tourism policy which addresses both supply and demand."
Tourism Ministers agreed to hold an inaugural Tourism Research Conference in November 2010, which will feature the release of Australia's first State of the Industry Report highlighting key trends and providing an assessment of the performance of the tourism industry.
Minister Ferguson said: "The State of the Industry Report will be an innovative and holistic assessment of the tourism industry's performance, challenges and trends."
Ministers agreed to the establishment of the Tourism Quality Council and appointment of Simon Currant (Chair), Shirley McPherson, Ray Schleibs, Rolf Dülks and Wayne Clift as the inaugural board members. The Council will be responsible for implementing Australia's first National Tourism Accreditation Framework designed to provide consumers with increased confidence through marketing businesses adhering to a quality standard.
The next meeting of the Tourism Ministers' Council will be held in Darwin on 10 September 2010.