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TICT Supports Parliamentary Inquiry into Tourism
Posted on Thursday, 10 September 2009 | Permalink
The Tourism Industry Council of Tasmania says it supports the Legislative Council Select Committee inquiry into Tasmania’s tourism industry.
TICT Chief Executive Officer Daniel Hanna said today the Inquiry would focus on the importance of the industry to the State’s economic future and the appropriate level of State Government support.
“The industry is very confident that the Select Committee will highlight not only the valuable contribution the industry is currently making to the Tasmanian economy and employment, but also its potential for further growth,” Mr Hanna said.
“In the face of an international and national slow down in tourism and greater competition from other destinations, the TICT has been campaigning strongly to reverse the recent decline in funding for tourism marketing so we can maintain and increase our share of visitors from key interstate markets.
“The TICT welcomes public scrutiny of the role that tourism plays in Tasmanian society and the Tasmanian economy. The Parliament is an appropriate way for this scrutiny to take place and the TICT will be an active participant in the Select Committee Inquiry.
“In addition to the $2.2 billion annual expenditure by visitors, and the 25,000 jobs it creates right throughout Tasmania, the private sector has also invested billions into new tourist infrastructure over recent years which have generated jobs in construction, manufacturing, hospitality, agriculture and the retail sectors.
Mr Hanna said an independent survey conducted for the TICT earlier this year found that Tasmanians ranked tourism above all other major Tasmanian industries as the sector which contributed most to economic growth.
“The survey also found that most Tasmanians know that over the next five years our industry will make the greatest contribution to economic growth,” Mr Hanna said.
