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
8 May 2007
Tourism in drought affected areas will be encouraged with a new $10 million tourism initiative over the next two years.
The Australian Tourism Development Programme (ATDP) will receive this additional funding to assist drought affected communities, with $5.0 million in 2007-08 and $5.0 million in 2008-09.
In addition, the ATDP will be extended for an additional three years with $24.9 million. In total, the Australian Government is providing an additional $34.9 million to support tourism.
The ATDP is a highly competitive merit-based grants programme that funds regional tourism projects in Australia. The ATDP is being boosted to support additional tourism projects in drought-affected areas.
Tourism is important to regional Australia, providing jobs for more than 200,000 Australians and injecting more than $32 billion into regional Australia.
"This initiative will help communities affected by the worst drought on record to attract more tourism dollars to the region," Fran Bailey, Minister for Small Business and Tourism, said.
"The new funding will create local jobs, encourage economic diversification and provide a lasting benefit to the wider region. It will also enhance the tourism experiences we can offer international tourists."
Eligible applicants including local community organisations and tourism businesses will be able to apply for funding for tourism projects in drought affected areas.
"Drought has caused enormous hardship right across the community. Through initiatives such as this, the Australian Government is providing practical assistance to those in need," Fran Bailey said.
For further information on the Australian Tourism Development Programme, please visit www.ausindustry.gov.au
Media contact: Kevin Lowe 02 6277 7450 0408 404 468
Supporting Information
Why is this important?
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The current drought is biting hard into many areas of Australia traditionally reliant on primary production. Many regional economies and small businesses need assistance to diversify their economic base and to become more resilient. Without such assistance, they will struggle to remain viable in a harsh environment.
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The ATDP is a highly competitive merit-based grants programme. It funds regional tourism projects that enhance Australia's tourism experiences.
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The enhanced ATDP will enable more projects to be funded in drought affected areas, encouraging increased investment in tourism and support for small business in regional communities.
Who will benefit?
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The ATDP will foster the economic development of rural and regional Australia. Specifically, the ATDP will support tourism development proposals from drought-affected areas. Regional Australian communities and small businesses will benefit from the funding of tourism projects.
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The wider regional economies will also directly benefit, as these projects purchase goods and services from local small businesses, and then attract additional expenditure by tourists visiting the region.
What funding is the Government committing to the initiative?
What have we done in the past?
When will the initiative conclude?