LABOR ANNOUNCES PLANS TO REVIVE QUEENSLAND’S TOURISM SECTOR

Media Release

A future Labor Government will provide the Queensland tourism industry with an extra $40 million over four years in a bid to provide certainty to the industry and support jobs in tourism, Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk said today.
Ms Palaszczuk said the Newman Government had let Queensland’s tourism and hospitality operators down by cutting more than $20 million from Tourism and Events Queensland last year and had failed to promote and support Queensland as a holiday destination.
“This lack of vision has seen Queensland’s market share of overnight visitors fall by 1.1% in the past year, Queensland’s market share of international visitors fall by a similar amount and domestic overnight visitor expenditure fall by 2%."
“Key tourism areas in Queensland such as the Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Townsville have seen holiday visitor numbers drop by up to 21% under the Newman Government in the past year.”
Ms Palaszczuk said there was a better way, with Labor’s plan including:
- Increasing the budget of the government’s marketing and events agency, Tourism and Events Queensland, by $10 million a year for four years to attract major new drawcards, attract events to regional Queensland and boost marketing;
- Providing four-year funding guarantees to take funding out of the electoral cycle and support new and improved major events that will create jobs and attract visitors to Queensland;
- A focus on attracting visitors from emerging tourism markets, particularly in China and the rest of Asia;
- Appoint a senior member of Cabinet as Tourism Minister;
- Commit $100 million to protect the Great Barrier Reef and the tourism it generates
- Rule out the introduction of a job-destroying bed tax
“Queensland has so much to offer but the Newman Government has not played an active supporting role,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“The Newman Government has cut funding the industry needs to promote Queensland in a highly competitive market, and has arrogantly ignored the messages from the industry."
“In contrast a Labor Government will revitalise and expand tourism."

“Our funding commitment will give the tourism industry the stability it needs to attract new events and promote Queensland as a world-class holiday destination.”