Tourism to play a key role in Queensland election

Tourism advocacy group Tourism and Transport Forum (TTF) believes that the future of Queensland's tourism industry will play a key role in the state's 24th March election.
TTF Chief Executive John Lee says nearly a quarter of a million people around the state are employed in the sector, and recently stated "I don't mean to use a cliche but to quote from the movie Jerry Maguire, as an election is called it is industry sectors like ours that now say show us the money."
Lee told AAP that both sides in the election need to put forward cogent policies and programs to make sure Queensland's iconic leisure coasts are foremost in the minds of Australians thinking of taking a holiday at home rather than tripping off to Indonesia or Malaysia.
Lee added "it is interesting that the alternative premier, Campbell Newman, stated very clearly last year that tourism and agriculture would be one of the four pillars that ensure Queensland's economic prosperity.
"While economic activity in Brisbane is going well, in regional parts of the state there are absolute signs that the GFC hasn't passed and the flatness of domestic leisure-based tourism is leading to real challenges for operators at the local level."
Lee said Premier Anna Bligh has also recognised the importance of tourism, stating "let's also give credit where it's due, the current government has delivered a record budget for major events and cultural tourism."
Lee believes that the battle to attract major events is no longer carried out just between the traditional rivals of Sydney and Melbourne but also Brisbane, concluding "I think structurally we have an issue in regional leisure tourism but again the Premier has joined us in seeking a new way with the federal government in ensuring the right tax treatment and the provision of incentives for local tourism operators."