Cash for tourism down by $14m

GOLD Coast-based Tourism Minister Steve Ciobo says a $14 million reduction in Tourism Australia’s Budget will not impact the body’s ability to market the region to lucrative international visitors.

Last night’s Budget allocated $129.3 million in agency resources to TA, compared to the $143.6 million estimated spend in 2016-17.

It will also make it more expensive for international visitors to come to the Coast by linking visa charges to inflation, reaping a projected $410 million in revenue by 2021.

Mr Ciobo said most of the reduction in TA’s budget merely reflected changes to foreign exchange rates in countries where the marketing dollars were spent.

“The Coalition Government continues to provide record funding to Tourism Australia,” he said.

“Changes in the headline funding rate of Tourism Australia basically reflects changes in the foreign exchange.”

The Government will provide $4 million of new funding to parts of Queensland impacted by Cyclone Debbie, including $3.5 million for tourism projects in the affected areas, to be delivered through the State Government.

Tourism Australia will spend $500,000 letting prospective tourists know the state is still open for business, and it will “reprioritise” $1 million of existing marketing funds to refocus its current coastal and aquatic campaign on Queensland destinations.

Tourism Queensland chairman Bob East, who is also on the board of TA, said the Cyclone Debbie boost would be welcomed by businesses hit by the March disaster.

“I welcome the Federal Government’s contribution to Queensland – it will definitely help us attract more tourists,” he said.

While visitor numbers to the Gold Coast have risen to record levels, the amount they’re spending and length of time they’re staying has declined sharply in successive visitor surveys.

Mr Ciobo said the Federal Government was attracting increasing tourist numbers and expenditure each year and it was up to local authorities to reclaim the city’s share.

He said funding for military security at the Commonwealth Games was also vital to the nation’s global image.

“One of the single biggest sales points of Australia is that people regard us as safe,” he said.

“We can’t risk that reputation being jeopardised.”

I WELCOME THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’S CONTRIBUTION TO QUEENSLAND – IT WILL DEFINITELY HELP US ATTRACT MORE TOURISTS BOB EAST