MARTIN FERGUSON JAN McLUCAS
Minister for Resources and Energy Senator for Queensland
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 Whitsunday’s economy is one of the most tourism dependent regional economies in Australia.
The value of the tourism output to the Whitsundays in 2007/08 was $685 million. This was 17.7 percent of the overall output from the region, making it the third most tourism dependent region in Australia after Central Northern Territory and Phillip Island in Victoria.
“Tourism is the lifeblood of many regional areas; it creates jobs where people live. Tourism is a source of employment in the Whitsundays 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 vital part of Queensland’s economy more broadly. More than 51 million visitors came to the state last year creating an industry which supported almost 112,000 tourism-related businesses.
“Tourism is particularly regionalised in Queensland- areas such as the Whitsundays, Tropical North Queensland, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast account for an enormous part of Queensland’s tourism industry,” Senator for Queensland, Jan McLucas said.
“Although the industry has had a very tough summer, the Federal and Queensland Governments have been working hard to get the message out that Queensland is open for business.
“We are starting to see the stories as a result of the visit to Queensland of 200 international and domestic media organised by Tourism Queensland and Tourism Australia earlier this month.
“The upcoming long Easter break is a perfect time to take up some of the specials on offer right across Queensland- there’s no better way to support the tourism industry than a holiday in Queensland.
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