Australian Regional Tourism Network calls for Government to ‘get serious’ about tourism

The Australian Regional Tourism Network (ARTN) is calling on the Federal Government to “get serious about tourism in regional Australia”, following the release of the latest Deloitte Access Economics' Tourism and Hotel Market Outlook.

The ARTN Chair David Sheldon welcomed the positive results from the newly released report, but says it’s time for the Federal Government to start investing in regional tourism.

Sheldon explained “these impressive results both quantify and qualify the Australian Regional Tourism Networks’ platform for the three levels of government to start a serious policy development on the infrastructure requirements for regional australia and incentives for regional investment.

“To date we have fallen over the line, so for these fantastic results to continue all three levels of Government need to get serious about infrastructure and investment in regional Australia.”

The report revealed tourism grew three times faster than the Australian economy over the year to June and the growth rates of both international and domestic visitors are in record territory.

Sheldon added “when we look at the domestic growth with a trend of around 9% coupled with the upgraded forecast in international visitation to 6.2% per annum, for tourism to remain an economic driver our political leaders need to look to investing into enabling infrastructure beyond our traditional destinations and definitely beyond the metro backdrop.

“The report states growth in the domestic market to regional Australia grew 50% faster than capital city domestic leisure travel so it really is time for the heavy weights on the hill to get serious about tourism in regional Australia and start some heavy lifting.”

Federal Government support for tourism will be a topic that will be addressed at the upcoming ARTN's annual Convention

The ARTN's 16th annual Convention is being held in the outback Queensland town of Roma from 25th to 27th October.

Click here for more information on 2016 ARTN Conference in the Australasian Leisure Management industry Calendar.

Image: The Roma Races.

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