Initiative announced aimed at strongly boosting domestic tourism

9/7/99
A domestic tourism initiative encouraging Australians to holiday at home is to receive strong financial support from the Commonwealth, State and Territory governments and the tourism industry.
Announcing the initiative, Western Australian Tourism Minister Norman Moore, chairman of the national Tourism Ministers' Council, said the $16 million, three-year program, was aimed at strongly boosting domestic tourism.
He was speaking at a press conference at the end of the annual national Tourism Ministers' Council meeting in Perth.
"The domestic tourism initiative will receive $8 million from the Commonwealth, $4 million from the State and Territory governments, and $4 million from the tourism industry," Mr Moore said.
"Domestic tourism makes up about 75 per cent of Australian tourism value.
"While recognising and endorsing the importance of competition between the States in this market, some elements require a co-operative approach between all governments and industry.
"To this end, the tourism initiative will address the fundamentals needed to lift the domestic market to new heights.
"It confirms the importance of tourism to Australia and the strong co-operation that exists between the governments of Australia and the tourism industry.
"Tourism is a vital industry for our nation, generating about $50 billion each year and employing one out of every nine Australian workers.
"It produces 10 per cent of our gross domestic product and earns about $16 billion each year in foreign exchange for Australia."
Mr Moore said that the domestic tourism initiative would include marketing initiatives focused on regional tourism, new market development - with a particular emphasis on encouraging different ethnic groups to holiday in Australia - and a marketing program to encourage the Australian travel industry to sell Australian holidays.
"As well, an Australian holiday data warehouse will be developed to link existing State tourism databases and allow members of the public to scan the whole of Australia for information on a particular holiday of interest to them," Mr Moore said.
He said that considerable research and development would provide a sound and long-term base for domestic tourism as part of a national research strategy.
"A major communications campaign will also be undertaken to encourage Australians to take a domestic holiday," the Minister said.
"This will provide the dual benefit of creating jobs and generating extra economic activity in Australia."
Mr Phil Young and Mr Chris Brown, representing Australia's two peak industry bodies - Tourism Council Australia and Tourism Task Force - said the domestic tourism initiative would encourage Australians to holiday in their own country generally, and regional Australia in particular, where the impact and benefits would be tangible and most needed.
Media contacts: Hartley Joynt, Minister's office, 9321 1444,
Roger Buddrige, Corporate Communications Manager of the Western Australian Tourism Commission, 0417 927 483.