ARCHIVE - The Hon Fran Bailey MP was the former Minister for Small Business and Tourism. The following media release was issued during her term as Minister. A new Government was sworn in by the Governor-General on 3 December 2007, including the following Ministerial appointments:
Senator the Hon Kim Carr - Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research
The Hon Dr Craig Emerson MP - Minister for Small Business, Independent Contractors and the Service Economy, Minister Assisting the Finance Minister on Deregulation.
For media releases from the current term of Government, please visit http://minister.innovation.gov.au/Pages/default.aspx
Media Release
The Hon Fran Bailey, MP
8 May 2007
The Australian Government will invest $193.3 million in tourism over the next four years.
Funding for Tourism Australia is to be maintained at the increased level originally announced as a four year commitment in the Tourism White Paper. The $193.3 million will be used to encourage more international tourists to visit Australia and strengthen domestic tourism.
Tourism Australia will receive ongoing funding of $46.4 million a year from 2008-09, over and above Tourism Australia's base level of funding, including $4.1 million for research and statistics. A further $1.4 million a year will be made available for statistics work by other agencies such as the Australia Bureau of Statistics.
The Government will provide $34.9 million to support regional tourism projects, especially in drought affected areas, through the Australian Tourism Development Programme.
In addition, the Government has committed $15 million to complete a new sunrise viewing area for Uluru – Kata Tjuta National Park.
"The Australian Government will invest $193.3 million in tourism to attract more international tourists to Australia and to encourage more Australians to explore their own backyard," Fran Bailey, Minister for Small Business and Tourism, said.
The Government is backing an industry which is delivering solid results, with international tourists spending an extra $1.8 billion in Australia last year.
"This is a fantastic result for our $75 billion tourism industry which employs more than half a million Australians. This continued level of commitment for the tourism industry will help keep our economy strong."
For further information please visit www.industry.gov.au/tourism. For further information on the additional $34.9 million to encourage regional tourism projects, please see the separate media release.
Media contact: Kevin Lowe 02 6277 7450 0408 404 468
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Supporting Information
Why is this important?
- This decision will provide Tourism Australia with ongoing funding of $46.4 million a year from 2008-09, over and above Tourism Australia's base level of funding.
- The commitment to research and statistics will receive ongoing funding of $5.5 million a year, which represents $4.1 million of Tourism Australia's funding and $1.4 million for the Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources.
- The extra funding will enable Tourism Australia to promote Australia with tourism campaigns and cooperative marketing schemes with guaranteed funding. It will also allow industry to leverage these funds.
- The funding for a new sunrise viewing area for Uluru- Kata Tjuta National Park will deliver a new world-class tourism facility. It will provide an unforgettable experience for the 400,000 people who visit Uluru - Kata Tjuta National Park each year.
Who will benefit?
- The $75 billion tourism industry will directly benefit from the additional funding by encouraging more big spending tourists to Australia, who will spend money at Australian hotels, shops and restaurants.
What funding is the Government committing to the initiative?
- $193.3 million over four years from June 2007.
What have we done in the past?
- In November 2003, the Australian Government released the Tourism White Paper.
When will the initiative conclude?
- The Tourism Australia funding is now ongoing.
- The Uluru – Kata Tjuta area is expected to be finished in 2008.