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Strong Support for Tasmania’s Visitor Economy Continues

25th May, 2017

Will Hodgman, Minister for Tourism, Hospitality and Events

Strong Support for Tasmania’s Visitor Economy Continues

Tasmania’s visitor economy is booming with a record number of visitors staying longer, and spending more in our State.

In the State Budget 2017-18 we’re investing $37 million more to build on this unprecedented growth in tourism, which supports local businesses and jobs right around the state.

The 2017-18 Budget includes:

An additional $11 million for Tourism Marketing. This funding will be directly invested in domestic and international marketing programs to stimulate demand for travel to Tasmania. Tourism Tasmania will undertake additional marketing activities which build on Tasmania’s distinctive tourism brand,  connecting people culturally and emotionally to Tasmania  -  what sets us apart as a destination.

$8 million to deliver flagship tourism experiences in national parks. The Tourism Infrastructure in Parks Program provides a further $8 million over two years to continue the delivery of flagship tourism experiences in national parks and other reserves across the State. Tasmania is increasingly becoming recognised as a world class eco-tourism destination and this initiative further builds on that reputation.

An additional $6.8 million towards a Visitor Centre at Cradle Mountain and associated infrastructure, along with viewing facilities at Dove Lake. The Budget also includes ongoing investment in stage 3 of the iconic Three Capes. This stage of the development will provide improved access to Cape Raoul and Shipstern Bluff.

$6 million as part of our Cycle Tourism Strategy to support new experiences and improve existing trails around Tasmania. This includes $1 million already announced for the St Helens Mountain Bike Trail Network to create a unique stacked-loop trail as part of expanding the larger Derby to Blue Tiers project.

$3.2 million to turn Drysdale into a Centre of Excellence to produce a new generation of tourism and hospitality workers who are trained to the latest and best industry standards.

A further $1.7 million to progress the Visitor Engagement Strategy, Workforce Development, and Destination Action Plans. This funding will build on ground breaking work being done to better understand what visitors want, assist in the development of strategies to ensure we attract more skilled workers into hospitality and tourism, and ensure that we have the right infrastructure in place across the state to meet growing visitor demand.

$245,000 to the Tasmanian Hospitality Associationto further the Great Customer Experience program, this funding will also enable the THA to host a state-wide hospitality conference later in the year.

Tourism is a one of our greatest competitive strengths and showcases all that is great about our State. The Government is committed to supporting the development of new experiences and ensuring visitors have a memorable time when they are here to keep Tasmania the nation’s premier tourism destination.