Shadow Minister for Trade and Tourism, Kevin Hogan has backed industry calls for the Labor government to adequately resource Tourism Australia as a priority after cutting $35 million in funding from the agency in their October budget.
“International visitor numbers in Australia continue to remain well down on 2019 levels. Recently released data worryingly indicates a growing gap between inbound and outbound international travel to and from Australia,” Mr Hogan said.
“We are currently seeing international flights arriving in Australia half full but departing at close to full capacity.”
“Of further concern for the tourism industry is most international travellers coming to Australia are doing so to visit family and friends rather than for a holiday.”
“In 2019, 9.5 million international visitors travelled to Australia with almost half nominating holidaying as the reason. Currently, with international visitor numbers remaining down 35% on pre-COVID levels, only 28% of those arrivals are nominating holidaying as the main reason for travel.”
“In pre-budget submissions to Treasury, both the Australian Tourism Export Council and the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry have called on the Government to increase its funding for Tourism Australia in the coming budget.”
“The Prime Minister needs to start backing our tourism operators and regions reliant on the international market. Tourism Australia is the agency responsible for marketing Australia as the destination of choice to international holiday makers, the decision to cut $35 million from their funding in Labor’s first budget was exceptionally poor.”
“We are competing against the rest of the world to attract international travellers. Tourism Australia must be funded adequately to ensure they can compete in an extremely competitive market. It made no sense for the Labor Government to cut $35 million from the agency tasked with rebuilding our international tourism market, this funding must be reinstated in the upcoming budget.”
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