Ted Baillieu addresses tourism industry

Leader of the Opposition Ted Baillieu addressed a cross section of 50 Tourism Alliance members at a function last night at the Park Hyatt in Melbourne.

Focusing on important issues affecting Victoria the event engaged 15 parliamentary members of the liberal party including Deputy Leader Louise Asher and Shadow Minister for Tourism Wendy Lovell.  A broad range of issues were canvassed including:  investment attraction, market growth, small business development, marketing resources and public land licencing.

Entitled Tourism Conversations the forum sought to ensure an understanding of tourism across a broad range of shadow portfolios.  In addressing the Forum Roger Grant Chairman of Tourism Alliance Victoria outlined a number of the key challenges facing Tourism Alliance members and the industry.

They included:

Infrastructure/Access

• Need to maximise the natural assets of Victoria through encouraging long term sustainable investment and 10 year terms for public land licences.

• Direct International air access is an issue for all of the Victorian tourism businesses.  To succeed there is a need for an alignment of the aviation and tourism policies.

• The need ensure Local Government effectively aligns tourism planning and land use planning frameworks.

Business Success

• Recognition that tourism is an export industry and investment should be considered in the same manner in which other export industry development activity is encouraged and supported.

• Increase priority for tourism and hospitality industry training in line with small business needs, employment growth and skills shortages

• Increase assistance available to enable tourism businesses to develop and grow their business success with eCommerce technology

Marketing

• State Government resources (marketing and industry development) are committed over the longer term and State Government agencies have a 3 year planning cycle.

• Clear commitment to increase Tourism Victoria’s resources from $40m to $50m initially and to $60m in four years.

• Provide resources to support growth and development of regional business events and conferencing facilities and activities to ensure complimentary dispersal beyond Melbourne. 

Tourism Alliance will continue to discuss these issues and others with all parties leading up to the State Election in November this year.