'No Leave, No Life' makes no sense

Australia Shadow Minister for Tourism, Bob Baldwin, has called on Federal Tourism Minister Martin Ferguson to immediately suspend the 'No Leave, No Life' tourism campaign.

Baldwin stated "Martin Ferguson should immediately suspend the 'No Leave, No Life' campaign.

"It doesn't make sense for the Government to be using taxpayer dollars to encourage people to take leave, only to see them go overseas."

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australia's tourism visitor deficit now exceeds 1.2 million visitors annually, with a record number of Australians heading offshore.

Baldwin added "with the high Aussie dollar, and high interest rates, the local tourism industry is facing the perfect storm.

"Labor has cut funding for Tourism Australia by $13.5 million in real terms, a hit which has come at the worst possible time.

"It's a waste of the limited tourism budget to be encouraging Australians to take leave if they are going to head overseas.

"The millions spent on the 'No Leave, No Life' campaign would be better targeted in a new domestic tourism campaign or redirected to Tourism Australia's current international marketing campaign."

Baldwin said it was important domestic tourism campaigns were judged on how they increased domestic visitor nights and domestic tourism expenditure.

For more information on 'No Leave, No Life' go to www.noleavenolife.com

5th November 2009 - $9 MILLION BOOST FOR DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL TOURISM 

15th June 2009 - REPORT URGES TOURISM INDUSTRY TRANSFORMATION

2nd April 2009 - AUSTRALIANS ENCOURAGED TO TAKE THEIR LEAVE

30th January 2009 - TTF FEARS TOURISM JOB CUTS