Tourism Alliance Victoria hosted breakfast this morning for 132 tourism industry leaders, including 16 Government Members of Parliament and the Minister for Tourism and Major Events the Hon. Tim Holding at the Windsor Hotel.

Attendees included Parliamentary Secretary assisting the Premier on Multicultural Affairs, Liz Beattie; Parliamentary Secretary, Public Transport and Arts, Rob Hudson; Parliamentary Secretary, Emergency Services, Danielle Green; Parliamentary Secretary, Industrial Relations, Jaala Pulford; Parliamentary Secretary for Roads and Ports, Martin Pakula; Parliamentary Secretary for Education Steve Herbert; and the Co-Chairs of the Government Friends of Tourism Group, Ben Hardman, Member for Seymour, and Hong Lim, Member for Clayton.

They were also joined by representatives from 7 Victorian local governments, 4 tertiary institutions, tourism organisations, tourism attractions, government agencies, and many tourism related businesses.

In his address Minister Holding highlighted the importance of the growth markets of China, Korea and India, and the challenge faced by the industry in drawing these visitors beyond Melbourne and its immediate surrounds and into regional Victoria. The need for the development of regional conferencing was recognised as a strategy to increase visitation beyond Melbourne. The Minister also emphasised the range of attractions in both metropolitan and regional areas of the State, their importance as drawcards for both domestic and international visitors and the need to continually develop and improve these attractions. Minister Holding also touched on the Nature-Based Tourism Strategy which was launched at the Melbourne Museum following the Breakfast. Many Breakfast guests went on the attend the launch.

Tourism Alliance Victoria would like to thank our Corporate Sponsors for their support of the breakfast: PRIME Television, Melbourne Airport, OAMPS Insurance and William Angliss Institute.