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Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen, and thank you for the opportunity to be with you today.
I am pleased to see the start of the rebuilding efforts across the Goldfields region, after the devastating Black Saturday bushfires.
While Mount Avoca escaped the worst of the bushfires, others in the region were not so lucky, and the tourism industry in particular has been very hard hit.
This is why, as Tourism Minister, I was very pleased to announce $5 million in federal funds to help tourism operators throughout bushfire-affected areas of Victoria.
This funding is part of the $10 million joint Bushfire Tourism Industry Support Package developed by the Victorian and Commonwealth Governments.
After the inevitable decline in tourism following the fires, the Australian Government stands ready to help the tourism industry recover and rebuild as quickly as possible.
It is a pleasure to be here to officially launch this pioneering development, which I am very pleased to say, has been assisted with $100,000 in Australian Government funding.
At a time of economic uncertainty, developments such as this take on new significance.
It shows a confidence in the tourism industry - a confidence I am working to grow throughout Australia.
Investments in tourism need to be supported and encouraged.
I redeveloped the ATDP program into TQUAL grants to give greater confidence to the tourism industry.
The aim of TQUAL Grants is to revitalise regions.
TQUAL Grants has received up to $8.5 million in funding for competitive grants to promote strategic investment in quality and innovation in the Australian tourism industry.
It means Australian Government support to initiatives that:
- Develop innovative product, services or systems within the tourism industry;
- Contribute directly to long-term economic development in the host region, and
- Develop or support high quality visitor services and experiences.
The aim is to better position the Australian tourism industry in a highly competitive market by helping tourism operators and regions offer a broader product.
Getting businesses working together maximises the opportunities their regions present and increases the economic benefits.
It grows the economic pie because tourism is a combination of complementary industries.
Hotels and motels, service stations, supermarkets, restaurants, wineries and dozens of other businesses all grow when tourism grows.
Tourism creates economic activity and economic opportunity. It multiplies benefits throughout communities and creates real jobs.
It's just one of the reasons I have been urging Australians to spend their stimulus payments on tourism - few industries stimulate economic activity like tourism.
But you can't just wish this into happening - you need to give people a reason to travel, a reason to spend.
As Lisa and Matthew Barry know, by offering a better product you stand out from the market.
It gives visitors a reason to make your destination part of their journey.
Now more than ever, the tourism industry needs to give people a reason to get out and see what is in their backyard.
At the end of March I launched the No Leave - No Life campaign, the aim of which is to unlock the 123 million days of accrued leave.
It would be an enormous boost to tourism if some of those days were taken as leave on an Aussie holiday.
But the challenge still remains - tourism needs to offer attractive product that can compete with DVDs and flat screen TVs.
Attractions like Eco Luxe @ Mount Avoca.
So without further delay, it is my great pleasure to officially launch Eco Luxe @ Mount Avoca.
Thank you.