Australian Tourism Exchange Opens

Australia's tourism industry is taking centre stage in Melbourne this weekend as the Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE) 2009 welcomes travel wholesalers (buyers) from around the world.

Tourism Australia Managing Director, Geoff Buckley said ATE is the only travel trade show of its kind staged in Australia, which solely focuses on promoting Australiaâs tourism experiences to the international market.

Buckley stated "ATE is the one chance a year that Australian tourism businesses have the chance to meet face-to-face with the people responsible for selling Australian holidays in our key international source markets on Australian soil.

"The event is also the most effective way for international buyers to meet with a diverse range of Australian tourism experiences, whether itâs our hotels, tour operators, attractions or state and regional tourism organisations, while experiencing the destination first-hand.

"With around 1,700 Australian delegates from 630 companies expected to meet with up to 600 overseas buyers from over 40 countries in up to 100,000 business appointments at the event, ATE provides the groundwork to further grow Australiaâs $25 billion inbound tourism industry."

Buckley said while global economic factors were impacting on travel worldwide, Australia was so far experiencing only moderate declines in international visitor numbers.

Federal Minister for Tourism, Martin Ferguson AM MP, opened the event and said the strong attendance demonstrates the global economic recession has failed to diminish Australia's standing as a highly sought-after international destination.

Minister Ferguson stated "right around the world, we're seeing the global recession reduce the number of people travelling, so it is very pleasing to see the strong number of overseas buyers in attendance.

Minister Ferguson is set to launch a National Long-Term Tourism Strategy tomorrow - Sunday 14th June.

Image shows Cable Beach, Broome.

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