Creating new jobs in tourism locations across the State is the key to the Brumby Labor Government’s $35.1 million package to boost Victoria’s profile in interstate and international markets.
Minister for Tourism and Major Events, Tim Holding, said increasing visitor numbers and expenditure in metropolitan and regional markets would drive more jobs in the tourism sector.
He said marketing destinations in regional Victoria was the centrepiece of the Brumby Labor Government’s tourism package.
“The State Budget will deliver $13.3 million over four years to the tourism sector in regional Victoria, creating jobs and injecting millions of dollars into regional economies,” Mr Holding said.
“The funds will help Victoria’s 10 tourism regions to market their regions domestically and facilitate the involvement of local tourism operators and local councils in marketing campaigns.”
Mr Holding said $8 million would be invested over four years to promote Victoria in key international markets as a great place to visit, including traditional source markets such as Europe, the United States and South-East Asia, and emerging markets such as China and India.
“This funding will go towards international marketing campaigns, as well as attracting additional air services to Melbourne,” he said.
Mr Holding said $13.8 million will be spent over two years to increase Victoria’s credentials as a world-class business events destination.
Business events funding from the 2008-09 State Budget incorporates: $10.8 million over two years to further increase business tourism to Victoria; and $3 million to host the 2009 Australian Tourism Exchange.
Mr Holding said this funding would help build the lucrative business events industry which injects $1.2 billion into the Victorian economy and generates 14,000 jobs.
“This funding for business tourism will assist the Melbourne Convention and Visitors Bureau (MCVB) to continue to attract lucrative international business events for Melbourne,” he said.
“The Brumby Labor Government’s $367 million Melbourne Convention Centre – the largest in Australia – opens in 2009 and will help secure further international business events.
“Sixty-five international conventions already secured for Victoria over the next few years stand to inject over $155 million into the State’s economy.”
Australian Tourism Exchange, which will be held in the new Melbourne Convention Centre, will bring together leading Australian tourism businesses with airlines, tourism wholesalers and retailers from around the world.
Around 2000 Australian ‘seller’ delegates from approximately 630 tourism companies will meet with nearly 800 key overseas ‘buyer’ companies from over 40 countries.
Mr Holding said hosting the event would inject over $10 million into the Victorian economy.
