Tourism plan to address regional labour and skills shortages in Victoria

A new joint Victorian and Federal Government tourism plan to address labour and skills shortages is to be rolled out in two of Victoria's key tourism regions, the Mornington Peninsula and Phillip Island.

Victorian Minister for Tourism and Major Events Louise Asher announced the development of the plan on the Mornington Peninsula this week, stating the "Government recognises the challenges and opportunities facing the tourism industry, including the tight labour market.

"It is important to ensure that the tourism workforce meets this demand with the required skills.

"The Tourism Employment Plan, a key initiative of the national tourism strategy Tourism 2020, will identify local employment and training needs."

The Victorian Government, through Tourism Victoria and the Commonwealth Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism, will work with tourism operators and small businesses in the Mornington Peninsula and Phillip Island regions to develop a targeted strategy to help identify employment and training needs, including linking those businesses with government and industry programs.

Minister Asher added "we will be consulting local businesses including hotels, caf�s and restaurants, and travel and retail businesses to develop a targeted plan as part of our overarching strategy to further grow Victoria's $15.2 billion tourism industry which employs 193,000 people."

Federal Minister for Tourism Martin Ferguson said the tourism industry had 36,000 vacancies and the Tourism Employment Plans were one of a number of Australian Government tools to help small businesses in the tourism industry to fill labour gaps.

Minister Ferguson stated "the challenge for small business is finding the time to explore the myriad government programs designed to assist them with recruiting and retaining staff.

"Tourism Employment Plans will save businesses in Phillip Island and on the Mornington Peninsula time and money by linking them with existing programs to improve education and training, and by supporting recruitment and retention and labour mobility outcomes."

According to Tourism Research Australia, the contribution of tourism to Phillip Island's economy is the highest of any region in Victoria, at a total of 18.7% or $353 million.

Image: Environmental rangers at Phillip Island.

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