‘TOURISM’ WORD MISSING FROM QLD BUDGET SPEECH – A CRITICAL SECTOR FOR SUNSHINE STATE

TTF Australia CEO Margy Osmond said today’s QLD Budget provides some good support to enable tourism and transport to continue to recover but reiterated that a renewed central focus on the visitor economy will be needed particularly while Australia remains without a national framework for reopening international borders.

“While the word tourism somehow was missing from the Treasurer’s speech in this, the sunshine state, the QLD Budget does contain ongoing stimulatory and infrastructure related measures across the tourism, transport and aviation sectors to help continue to support the state’s visitor economy over the coming 12 months,” Margy Osmond said.

“As an industry we are certainly not out of the woods yet and the visitor economy must remain a priority through the recovery as domestic travel uncertainty lingers and international travel remains virtually non-existent.

“It is a necessity that the Federal Government develop a national framework with clear targets for international borders to reopen, both for Queensland, and the rest of the nation, to provide certainty for our sector and to begin to put us firmly on the road to recovery. Queensland continues to miss out on around $873 million every month from the lack of international visitors.

“We welcome ongoing funding for Tourism & Events Queensland to continue the important job of marketing the State to get interstate leisure, business, cultural and event related travel right back into gear. We are also pleased to see funding provided for the long called-for Aviation Route Support Package with $10 million over two years committed to rebuild Queensland’s international aviation connectivity.”

Dedicated new tourism funding included $9.9 million for the Wangetti Trail, a 94-kilometre walking and mountain bike trail through tropical rainforests from Palm Cove to Port Douglas, with public and eco-accommodation facilities. There was also $9 million allocated for three years for Queensland to host the World Science Festival, a major event.

TTF welcomed cultural tourism funding including $36.1 million to renew critical infrastructure in Brisbane, a new $13.1 million arts infrastructure fund for venues across the state and $7 million in support for live venues.

TTF’s Queensland transport membership also welcomed major ongoing funding for public transport infrastructure across the state as well as major new skills support to help restore industry jobs.

“New transport funding included $188.9 million for Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3 as part of this $1 billion project and long supported by TTF so a big tick for the Queensland Government on that front,” Margy Osmond continued.

“Further, the Cross River Rail project in the heart of Brisbane is receiving a significant $1.5 billion in support to deliver four new CBD stations. This is just what is needed for the CBD and will support 7,700 full-time equivalent jobs.”

Contact: TTF Manager Policy, Media & Government Relations Lindsay Hermes lhermes@ttf.org.au 0418 948 447

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