Tourism Alliance Victoria, Australia News

Tourism Alliance Victoria is Victoria’s peak tourism association that engages grass-roots tourism businesses across all industry sectors and represents the industry at all levels of government across a range of issues. Tourism Alliance Victoria advocates for and supports the development of a professional and sustainable tourism industry, championing best practice and providing opportunities for industry development and connectivity.

will engage with Government to address crisis management in the Victorian tourism industry, including advice on cancellation policies; industry preparation and education; and, in the event, post-disaster support for re-establishing tourism in affected towns and regions.
seeks to ensure effective progression and implementation of the public land licensed tour operator reform and Proposed Wildlife (Marine Mammals) Regulations 2009 to ensure members are not disadvantaged
will continue to represent and advocate for the interests of Regional Victorian Tourism.
advocates for Government action to effectively combat the chronic skills shortage in tourism and hospitality and address the supply-side issues, inclusive of the international education crisis.
supports sustainability as part of tourism business best practices. TAV will advocate for Government funding to educate the tourism industry on the physical and financial impacts of climate change, including the proposed Emissions Trading Scheme.
encourages and promotes member participation in Awards and Accreditation programs to promote business excellence and best practice.

Tourism Alliance Victoria plays an important role in representing Victoria's tourism industry at all levels of Government on issues that affect the way our members do business. Some examples include: impact of natural disasters on tourism, industry skills shortgages and public land licencing.

In response to these issues and in support of our membership, Tourism Alliance has prepared and submitted to Government a number of dicussion papers which can be viewed by clicking on the links below.

Victoria’s Tourism and Events Industry Strategy 2020 has been developed by the Victoria Tourism Industry Council (VTIC) and the Victoria Events Industry Council (VEIC), in collaboration with broader industry. It follows on from the Tourism and Events Strategy 2016, first developed by industry in 2008, and incorporates an assessment of where the industry is coming from and outlines a vision for where we want to go.

The strategy represents the commitment and drive of the industry to demonstrate leadership in setting and achieving its future goals. Much has happened since the previous industry strategy was first developed and the environment within which operators compete has changed markedly. This has reinforced the need for a reassessment.

The strategy sets out a plan to accomplish future growth in the four key focus areas of leadership, industry development, infrastructure and marketing. The Events Industry Development Plan outlines actions to enhance the development of the events industry across a range of areas including; promoting the value of events, product development, sustainability and workforce development. The strategy is available for download online at both www.vtic.com.au and www.veic.com.au.

Tourism Alliance Victoria has long been involved in the public land licence reform project, from the initial industry consultations which helped shape the May 2008 Policy Statement to the current implementation phase of the reforms.

Recent changes to National Park entry fees and delays in implementation of the reforms have prompted a reiteration of TAV’s position of tourism operations on public land. To read the full statement click here.

Tourism and Events Industry well represented in the VECCI State Budget Submission

The VECCI State Budget Submission strongly advocates on behalf of all tourism and events members including Tourism Alliance Victoria.

The tourism and events sector is vulnerable to fluctuations in the general economic environment and has been impacted by the recent downturn in the economy.

As such, it is important that the 2010-11 State Budget is used not only to assist the tourism and events sector recover from the effects of the downturn, but also help position the industry for sustainable real growth through a combination of strategic investment and marketing investment.

Together with sector specific recommendations, tourism and events members stand to benefit from the many State wide recommendations presented on behalf of all VECCI members. These recommendations include:

Advocacy and representation for the industry will continue over the coming months as VECCI CEO Wayne Kayler-Thomson and other senior representatives meet with various State Ministers to advocate strongly on behalf of members, reinforcing the recommendations highlighted in the State Budget Submission.

VECCI, together with Tourism Alliance has welcomed the release of the 2010/11 State Budget. The Budget contains initiatives to cut business costs, strengthen infrastructure investment and support jobs growth. It also contains important measures to strengthen the State’s investment in law and order, schools, health, education and transport, and tourism and events.

Many of the Budget outcomes were consistent with the recommendations advocated by VECCI in our pre-Budget submission and consultations.

There were a number of outcomes and initiatives announced as part of the 2010/11 State Budget that impact on the tourism and events industry. These include:

For more information on these initiatives please click here. VECCI's State Budget overview and analysis can be viewed here.

The tourism industry stands to gain from two particular initiatives outlined in the recent Federal Budget:

$5.5 million over four years to implement and operate the National Tourism Accreditation Framework (NTAF) to strengthen Australia's tourism industry. The NTAF will offer tourism accreditation program providers the opportunity to co-brand with the NTAF and benefit from being associated with a nationally and internationally recognised mark. The NTAF will provide an incentive for tourism businesses to examine and improve the quality of their products and services, and it will also improve consumers’ capacity to identify quality tourism products and services. [Further information can be found in the ‘Launch of the National Long-Term Tourism Strategy’ speech delivered by the Minister for Tourism on 15 December 2009.

A further $4.1 million over four years to continue the Approved Destination Status (ADS) tourism arrangement between China and Australia. This funding will allow continued monitoring of existing ADS tourism operators, vetting and monitoring of new ADS applications, and provide training for operators on the ADS arrangements. The ADS scheme is a bilateral tourism arrangement between the Chinese and Australian Governments. It enables Chinese tourists to travel to Australia as part of organised tour groups while maintaining a quality control program for Chinese leisure in Australia. The ADS also permits the Australian Government, through Tourism Australia, to promote Australia as a leisure travel destination in China.

For more information on the Federal Budget and an overview of industry and business related initiatives please click here.

In August 2009 the Victorian Government introduced legislation to Parliament to amend the Liquor Control Reform Act 1998 proposing that a risk-based fee structure be applied to liquor licences.

The purpose of risk-based fees is to make venues associated with the most harm to the community pay the most, to recover the real cost of regulating and policing the industry and keeping our venues safe.

A submission was prepared with the assistance of VTIC and HMAA. It is pleasing to see that our concerns, along with the concerns of the wider industry, have been heard, and that a number of refinements have occurred as a result. Click here for an overview of the Government response to the submission.

The government has now refined the fee structure as a result of extensive community and industry consultation and adjusted the fee structure so that large late-night venues will continue to pay the highest fees whilst smaller, earlier closing venues will pay relatively less.

The main changes to the risk-based fee structure as a result of the feedback are as follows:

For the purpose of the venue capacity multiplier, licensees will be able to have patron numbers for accommodation and function areas excluded from the calculations where:

Information on the new licence categories can be found here. Information on the new risk-based fee structure can be found here.

TAV has also submitted comments on the Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) relating to the proposed Wildlife (Marine Mammals) Regulations 2009. The current regulations will sunset at the end of November 2009. TAV has been involved in the stakeholder consultations conducted by the Department of Sustainability and Environment, which have also been attended by a number of members.

TAV has submitted comments on the Gippsland Region Sustainable Water Strategy. The timing of the call for public comment coincided with the announcement by the State Government that 10 billion litres of water would be extracted from the Thomson River. In addition making a submission, TAV has written to Minister Holding, in his capacity as Minister for Water and Minister for Tourism and Major Events, urging a review of the Thomson River extraction as well as consideration of the impacts it will have on tourism in the region.

The policy statement for this reform project was launched in May 2008 with the support of the Department of Sustainability Environment, Parks Victoria and Tourism Victoria. The raft of reforms has been a long time coming but these improvements to the licensing system will benefit our members in a number of ways. In particular, Tourism Alliance Victoria lobbied for longer licence terms and we are delighted to see that this will be implemented. We believe that those businesses that opt for a longer licence term will benefit from greater business security, less administration, be more likely to invest in their business and be better placed to sell their product to the international market.

As detailed in the Directions Paper, fees will be increasing to allow for 75% cost recovery with an aim to move towards 100% cost recovery over the next 3-5 years. As per industry request, 18 months' notice is required before fees are increased. For various reasons, fee increases scheduled for July 2009 have been postponed, pending a public consultation process known as a Regulatory Impact Statement which is used to inform the setting of fees.

Tourism Alliance Victoria has raised members concerns regarding retaining the use fee cap. The Project Control Board (DSE, PV & TV) response is that as those paying the use fee cap do not currently submit a trip return form there is no data to indicate that some operators are being disadvantaged by this system. As of July 2008, those paying the use fee cap will be required to submit a trip return form and the fee structure will be reviewed again in the next 3-5 years. The risks associated with removing the cap on use fees is that less use fees are paid, cost recovery declines and licence fees will be required to be increased to maintain cost recovery.

Tourism Alliance Victoria and its members also supported improving compliance activities. The policy statement has a number of measures to ensure that those businesses that should hold a licence do hold a licence (thus ensuring equity for current licence holders). This of course will require the assistance of those "on the ground" and we look forward to working in cooperation with those rolling out the compliance activities over the next year.

Tourism Alliance continues to play an active role in the licence reform and implementation process, working closely with DSE and Parks Victoria to better inform State Government of industry views on this important issue.

Download the latest DSE Update: September 2009 (PDF) here Download the position paper (PDF) here

Download the "Why is a 10 year licence preferred" fact sheet here Download our full representation here

As noted in the Draft Regional Tourism Action Plan (Draft RTAP), regional tourism in Victoria faces many challenges: a slowing economy which is limiting discretionary income; increases in fuel prices which has driven up air fares and petrol prices, therefore adversely impacting both international and domestic markets; skills shortages; and natural crises such as drought and bushfires.

Tourism Alliance Victoria (TAV) welcomes the recognition by Tourism Victoria of the need for a strategy to address the problems facing regional tourism. However, there are deficiencies in the strategies proposed, as well as key issues which have not been addressed in the Draft RTAP. These are detailed in this report.

SECTION A will examine the four proposed strategies, outline areas requiring clarification or improvement, and make recommendations for each strategy.

SECTION B will raise issues not covered in the Draft RTAP and make recommendations for their consideration.

Tourism Alliance Victoria (TAV) is delighted with the State Government’s announcement this morning (13/11/2008) of a $9.2million package to support businesses and improve infrastructure around Port Phillip Bay. See the full media release here

Prior to the above-mentioned Government announcement Tourism Alliance Victoria advocated for tourism businesses in light of the Port Phillip Bay Channel Deepening Project, which was given Federal Government approval on 20th December 2007 and commenced on 1st February 2008.

Tourism Alliance Victoria met with the Director of Policy and Programs of Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development on 21st December 2007 to discuss business continuity support. Similar discussions with Tourism Victoria were ongoing throughout the project.

Tourism Alliance was also a member of the Community Liaison Group established by the Port of Melbourne Corporation, attending meetings throughout the project's duration.

In the lead up to the project and throughout, Tourism Alliance Victoria advocated for these four key priorities:

Tourism Alliance Victoria has made a submission to the Northern Region Sustainable Water Strategy (NRSWS), a Victorian Government initiative to secure Victoria’s water future at a regional level. The Discussion Paper outlines water resources, river health and key challenges facing the Region as well as management options.

Our submission is based upon the need for tourism to be considered in the Strategy and we have subsequently secured a position on the NRSWS Working Group. Tourism Alliance has asserted tourism priorities at two Working Group meetings and has formally requested to the Chairperson the need for a more inclusive approach to water issues.

The Victorian Environmental Assessment Council’s (VEAC’s) River Red Gum Forests Investigation began in April 2005. The Investigation includes public land along the Murray River from Lake Hume to the South Australian border and includes the lower reaches of the Avoca, Loddon, Campaspe, Goulburn, King, Ovens and Kiewa Rivers.

VEAC released its River Red Gum Forests Investigation Draft Proposals Paper for public comment in July 2007. During the following consultation period, VEAC held nine community forums, attended public meetings and had face-to-face meetings with many individuals and organisations.

Submissions to the River Red Gum Forests Investigation closed on 8 October 2007. Tourism Alliance Victoria has been involved in the process from its inception. Around 6800 submissions were received with tourism feedback including comments such as:

• reservations regarding access for recreation activities such as camping, horse-riding, fishing and four-wheel driving • the need for VEAC to provide more detail on proposed camping management changes, by describing the changes and specific locations • highlighting of the contributions of community organizations in management of public land • both support for and rejection of the proposed campfire changes and related fallen timber targets, to varying degrees, with many people supporting a summer campfire ban in line with current NSW regulations • concern over a reduction in areas available for recreational hunting • concern over management of public land, particularly for wildfire prevention and suppression, and adequate on-ground resourcing

Note that the recommendations regarding camping, horse-riding, fishing and four-wheel driving have been misinterpreted by many people, and the correct recommendations are explained on VEAC’s website.

The Final Report will be presented to the Minister for Environment and Climate Change by May 2008. The Minister will release the Final Report within 7 days and it will also be published on the VEAC website (www.veac.vic.gov.au).

The State Government will then consider VEAC’s recommendations and decide on its response. The Government has six months to provide a response to the ecommendations in the Final Report.

Download the 2007 submission letter (PDF) here. Download the 2006 position paper (PDF) here. Download the VNPA Factsheets (PDF) here.

At a meeting of members of the National Tourism Alliance (NTA) in December, key tourism industry leaders affirmed their top hit list of key national issues and concerns. With the election of the new Rudd Labor Government, it was perfect timing to review the priorities of Australia’s peak national tourism body, to ensure that NTA stays focused on those issues collectively identified as being the most important.

Not surprisingly, number one on the list was labour and skill shortages. Due to the proactive strategies of key NTA members such as Restaurant & Catering Australia, and the AHA, this issue is already being strongly addressed. However, the barriers and concerns are many and complex, including the changing desires of the younger generation, low unemployment, filling regional positions and wage and conditions structures. NTA’s role will primarily be to highlight the significant negative impact this issue is having on providing consistently good service to tourists, and to support the work being done by its members.

The other key issues identified by members include climate change and sustainable tourism, funding for the Tourism CRC, marketing funds for Tourism Australia, and the image of the tourism industry in the public, media and government. The image issue needs to make the industry more appealing and relevant to everyday Australians, rather than it just being seen as a leisure industry for the well off.

The meeting also served as a useful introduction for new NTA CEO, Jenny Lambert. Jenny has worked for 21 years in tourism & hospitality association roles, including stints as CEO for Restaurant & Catering Australia, and Meetings & Events Australia.

Already Jenny has taken the priority issues to Canberra, and has met with the office of the Minister for Tourism and also the new Deputy Head of the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism who will be responsible for Tourism.

Further meetings will take place in January with key Ministers and bureaucrats, and will be in support of the tourism industry’s pre-budget submission.

Tourism Alliance welcomed the opportunity to respond to Victoria’s Tourism and Events Industry- Building a 10 Year Government Strategy, discussion paper, July 2005. As an industry tourism is significant from an economic, cultural and community perspective. All the evidence in the discussion paper reinforces tourism’s value as a growing labour intensive industry with the current and future capacity to generate significant export earnings through international tourism. In addition tourism is becoming an increasingly important element in supporting regional and rural communities as they look to the future. Download a copy of Tourism Alliance Victoria's response to the discussion paper.

Federal Government 10 Year Plan for Tourism - Excerpt from Tourism Alliance Response
Revised domestic tourism forecasts demonstrate minimal growth in domestic tourism through to 2012. (Tourism Forecasting Council). However, Domestic Tourism constitutes 75% of Australia’s tourism business and 92% of regional Victoria’s tourism business. ABS figures show continuing strong growth in household consumption, however tourism’s share of the growth is declining. Now more than ever a consolidated effort is required across all levels of government and the tourism industry to stimulate growth in domestic tourism. Failing to respond will result in the gap between the consumption of travel and the consumption of household goods continuing to grow, as tourism marketing budgets compete with marketing budgets of the likes of LG Electronics ($23 million-advertising budget 1) and Harvey Norman’s ($30 million- media budget 2).

Download Tourism Alliance's response to the 10 Year Plan for Tourism Green Paper.
Download Tourism Alliance's response to the 10 Year Plan for Tourism Discussion Paper.