The Tourism & Transport Forum, Australia’s leading tourism and transport advocacy group, has welcomed the Tasmanian Government’s continued commitment to growing the State’s booming visitor economy in its 2017-18 Budget.

TTF Chief Executive, Margy Osmond, congratulated the Hodgman Government on delivering the funding needed to further develop tourism as a key long-term driver of economic and jobs growth across the State.

“The economic turnaround that has seen the Tasmanian Government post a $54 million surplus in this Budget is in no small part due to the tourism boom that last year saw more than 1.2 million domestic and international tourists visit Tassie,” Ms Osmond said.

“There is no doubt that tourism is growing into one of the key pillars of the Tasmanian economy, and this Budget recognises that for the true economic potential of tourism to be realised then there needed to be significant and ongoing investment in the sector.

“TTF has been a vocal advocate of greater investment in destination marketing and it is pleasing to see the Tasmanian Government has embraced this message by providing $11 million to draw more tourists from around Australia and the world to Tasmania.

“The $3.2 million to transform TasTAFE’s Drysdale campus into a Centre of Excellence for hospitality and help produce a new generation of tourism and hospitality workers is great news for the sector and for young Tasmanians looking to capitalise on the tourism boom.

“The additional $100 million for the replacement of the Bass Strait passenger ferries is also great news for the State and for the record number of tourists choosing to travel Tasmania by ferry each year.

“Through this Budget the Tasmanian Government has embraced the potential of tourism to create jobs and grow the visitor economy.”