Jones, Ciobo trade blows

STATE Tourism Minister Kate Jones and Federal counterpart Steven Ciobo are trading barbs as tourism rivals mining for economic impact.

Domestic and international tourist expenditure surged $6.3 billion in the last year to $121.1b, matching mining’s contribution to the economy.

But Ms Jones said you wouldn’t know it going by coalition Federal Government decisions while Tourism and Transport Forum lobby group CEO Margy Osmond accuses the government of treating tourism as a “cash cow”.

Ms Jones said introducing backpacker tax rates, raising visa fees and a $10m Tourism Australia funding cut in May’s Budget showed a lack of appreciation for tourism.

“Queenslanders and Gold Coasters have always known tourism is going to be a longterm jobs generator,” she said. “We won’t see the ups and downs we saw with mining – it’s going to be growth every year.

“It has been disappointing under the Federal Government to have backpackers slugged with tax, visa fees up.”

Ms Osmond said key to turbocharging the visitor economy was boosting Tourism Australia’s budget, investing in transport infrastructure, better visa competitiveness and a fund for international events.

“The Federal Government’s May Budget showed tourism is being treated as a cash cow.”

But Federal Tourism Minister Steven Ciobo said under his Government’s watch visitor numbers, their spend and bed nights had all achieved doubledigit growth since 2014.

Mr Ciobo said Queensland and Gold Coast, with slower growth rates than the rest of the country, were losing market share: “People can have a chop at me but the results send a different message”.

Tourism Australia’s $150mplus in funding was at record levels and to say it was cut showed “ignorance” of foreign exchange fluctuations, he said.

“Frankly, I’m disappointed Kate Jones wants to play silly politics. It’s better when we work together for the benefit of the Gold Coast, Queensland and Australia.”