ACT to invest in event tourism

Investment in event tourism could pay off handsomely for the ACT, with the Canberra Convention Bureau forecasting a 17-fold return on a proposed $439,000 investment.

In a budget submission to the ACT Government, the bureau requested $609,000 to attract events to the capital.

The bulk of the funding ($439,000) would be used to lure an extra 15 events to the capital each year - reaping a return of $7.5 million annually.

The submission said the funds would be used to generate an extra 30 convention bids each year and increase the bid success rate to 50%, up from 40%.

It would accomplish this by strengthening the Bureau's research capacity, improving the quality of bids and increasing market presence and penetration.

Canberra Convention Bureau Chief Executive Robyn Hendry said Canberra's attraction was its profile as a research and knowledge hub.

The remaining money would go towards G20 related activities ($60,000), sports mapping and inventory ($20,000) and establishing a bid support fund to attract business events to the capital ($90,000).

The Canberra Times revealed in January that the ACT had agreed to collaborate with NSW on a joint bid to host the G20 meeting in Australia in 2014. However, a report on the capital's ability to host international events found the ACT does not have the capacity.

Hendry said the budget funding would help secure four G20 build-up events, stating "we've got a committee and a list of opportunities but now we need to do the pointy-end work to get abstracts written on those issues."

Hendry added that Canberra possessed the intellectual and cultural expertise to host important global debates, concluding "we want to ensure Canberra as the national capital isn't overlooked for G20 events and we're highlighting the expertise we have here."

For more information go to www.canberraconvention.com.au/pages/index.asp

6th December 2010 - NCC APPOINTS NEW MARKETING MANAGER