There is a buzz around tourism opportunities in Tasmania’s North West, and that was evident this morning as I opened the Cradle Coast Regional Tourism Forum.
I’m always excited to head to the West Coast, and I’m among a growing number of people loving its unique experiences.
The number of visitors travelling to the Cradle Coast increased by 10 per cent in the most recent survey, that’s more than the south and the east coast.
It’s a trend we want to see continue, because we know that where tourists go dollars go with them, and that’s great for locals pouring beers at the pub, owners of the bed and breakfasts and the guides on the Gordon River Cruise.
The Cradle Coast Regional Tourism Forum was a great opportunity to come together, as we often do, with the Cradle Coast Authority and locals to see how we can keep this momentum going.
As a government we’ve committed about $8 million in additional funding for tourism, and importantly that includes the Regional Events Start-Up Program, aimed at kick-starting new and unique events in areas like the north and North West.
We want to attract 1.5 million visitors to the state every
year by 2020, which the industry tells us will create 8,000 new jobs, and we
want as many of those jobs as possible to be in our regional areas.
There’s no doubt it’s been a tough time for
many on the North West and West Coasts following the closure of the Mt Lyell
mine and Caterpillar’s recent decision to downsize.
As a Government we took immediate action in response to both incidents to support workers, their families and the North West Coast community by establishing dedicated working groups and providing funding support to create job opportunities and support the advanced manufacturing sector.
Importantly, our action has generated temporary work for 135 locals, it has helped to start two new businesses and it’s created 15 ongoing jobs.
As Premier, I want to see first-hand how the West Coast community is going and ensure that the support we are giving is providing help where it is needed most.
Over recent days, I have met with local industries and employers. We know that there is opportunity for greater economic momentum in the north west of the state, and I want to ensure we’re doing all we can to give local businesses the kick-start they need to invest and create jobs.