Shadow Minister Media Releases
DON’T FORGET REGIONAL TOURISM COMMITMENT (19/09/2008)
The NSW Opposition spokesperson on Tourism, Don Page MP says the NSW Premier Nathan Rees must stick to the previous Premier’s commitment of extra funding for regional tourism in NSW.
The announcement made last month by the then NSW Tourism Minister Matt Brown will provide $10.5million in additional funding to regional tourism over three years (i.e. $3.5million per annum).
“The additional funding for regional tourism in New South Wales is desperately needed and cannot afford to be stalled while the State Government tries to figure out how to improve its financial situation,” Mr Page said.
“This funding is really an investment in our regional economy at a time of economic uncertainty.
“Regional tourism in New South Wales accounts for two-thirds of the state’s holiday and leisure market and employs 73,000 people in the regions.
“Tourism is an important economic driver for the regions.
“The O’Neill Report released earlier this year recommended $21.1million per annum for regional tourism in New South Wales. That’s six times more than the Government committed to,” Mr Page said.
“It is imperative that this funding is retained,” he said.
The O’Neill report found that the State Labor Government’s under-funding of tourism marketing had cost New South Wales $3.5billion in lost revenue over the last seven years.
“Giving the Tourism portfolio to the most junior Minister indicates that under a Rees Government tourism is not going to be seen as important, yet it is a key economic driver. In both Victoria and Queensland tourism is given a much higher priority,” Mr Page said.
“The tourism industry in New South Wales has been struggling under a negligent Labor Government for the last 13 years. Supporting regional tourism would be part of the solution to the financial problems the State Government are facing by boosting the regional economies. The State Government needs to rally behind the tourism industry now,” Mr Page said.
The Regional Tourism Profiles recently released by Tourism Research Australia shows visitors to New South Wales spent a staggering $22.7billion in 2007.
“I call on the new Premier to retain this vital funding for regional tourism,” Mr Page said.
