National body highlights more funding still needed to rebuild Australia's regional tourism sector

While Australian Regional Tourism has strongly welcomed the recent announcement of new and increased financial support from the Federal and NSW Government to people and businesses in NSW to help them get through this extended lockdown, they argue that the new funding is still not enough to support the regional tourism industry through the remainder of this crisis.  

Australian Regional Tourism (ART) - the peak national body representing regional tourism practitioners - would like to see more financial focus, alongside tangible measures of success, on the agreed National regional tourism priorities that will build capacity and resilience in the industry, and help to brace businesses for future crises.

ART Chair, Coralie Bell notes “there is still no national tourism strategy to provide a pathway for business recovery and regional tourism measures have never been included in the national strategy.

“Regional Australia has just taken hit after hit, we are now going on 18 months of crisis with bushfires, floods, cyclones and the pandemic, and this is on the back of a prolonged drought, the National regional tourism priorities have not changed however the need to address them has heightened.”

ART highlight that to thrive post pandemic:

•The Tourism 2030 strategy needs to be delivered promptly with measurable and achievable regional targets in place

•Focus needs to be placed on financial support that is tied to strategic priority outcomes

ART consider that “the Federal Government has had ample time to address industry priorities and strengthen the regional business outlook, however we are yet to see any real and meaningful action. Consultation on the National tourism strategy is now into its third year. The industry is tired of saying the same thing over and over.”

Bell adds “it's time to stop talking about what we are going to plan to do and actually do something! Australia's regional communities are a resilient bunch, but there is only so much we can take.”

The importance of regional tourism in Australia cannot be underestimated. Tourism supports one in 12 jobs nationally however in some regions, that figure is as high as one in six jobs.

While many regional tourism businesses have experienced strong demand over recent months, many have not. The increased demand that has been experienced to date is far from sufficient to make up for the now 18 months of devastating impacts felt in regional businesses.

Without a National strategy and funding tied to these priority outcomes, there is no pathway to build a new and dynamic regional tourism industry.

ART conclude “we can only hope the Federal Government takes action before more tourism businesses are lost. “

Image: Queensland Rock Art Tours Cooktown courtesy ART