Labor Shadow Tourism Minister Wayne Berry today launched Labor’s 9 point plan for Tourism at a pre-election tourism industry lunch.
Labor has campaigned on tourism issues over this term and the 9 point plan issued today will address the emerging issues in tourism.
"Success on revitalising Floriade by the removal of the entrance fee, exposing the ‘Feel the Power’ campaign, support for the V8 car race and the Canberra International Dragway have formed part of my continuing campaign for tourism," Mr Berry said.
"I have also announced a review of the Canberra Tourism and Events Corporation. Labor believes that this is the least that is required in the wake of many controversial tourism issues which have emerged in the course of this government’s term in office.
"Tourism is an integral factor in Canberra’s development and Labor is serious about ensuring a bright future for our tourism industry.
Labor’s policy
1. An ACT Labor Government will, in consultation with the ACT Tourism Industry Council and Canberra Tourism and Events Corporation, develop a coherent tourism industry strategy that properly recognises the different tourism industry sectors in the ACT: holiday and national attraction tourism; convention tourism; business and government tourism; and sports tourism.
2. An ACT Labor Government will in conjunction with the tourism industry, continue to develop and update the ACT Tourism Master Plan as the key mechanism for facilitating effective cooperation across the tourism industry and between industry and Government.
3. An ACT Labor Government will, in consultation with the ACT Tourism Industry Council and Canberra Tourism and Events Corporation, develop and implement a ‘whole of government’ Tourism Network that coordinates tourist-related activities of all government agencies.
4. An ACT Labor Government will, in consultation with the ACT Tourism Industry Council and Canberra Tourism and Events Corporation, identify opportunities for applying innovations in tourism marketing and product development such as the National Capital Education Tourism Project to other areas of tourism such as sports tourism.
5. An ACT Labor Government will, in consultation with the ACT Tourism Industry Council and Canberra Tourism and Events Corporation, develop appropriate industry development plans for each tourism sector and an overall integration plan with appropriate marketing budget for each sector.
6. In response to the shock to the tourist industry from the United States terrorist attacks and the collapse of Ansett, the ACT Labor Government will consult with Canberra Airport management and make representations to the Federal Government to identify opportunities for increased regional and international flights to use Canberra Airport.
7. An ACT Labor Government will, in consultation with the ACT Tourism Industry Council, Canberra Convention Bureau and Canberra Tourism and Events Corporation, identify how the ACT’s convention facilities can be upgraded to compete for major national and international conventions without an unsustainable cost to the public purse.
8. An ACT Labor Government will, in consultation with the ACT Tourism Industry Council, Canberra Convention Bureau and Canberra Tourism and Events Corporation, urgently review the ACT’s tourism infrastructure.
9. An ACT Labor Government will, in consultation with the ACT and Australian Capital Region tourist industry, Canberra Convention Bureau and Canberra Tourism and Events Corporation, regularly update the ACT Tourism Master Plan to maximise ACT tourism’s performance and improve yields from tourism. This will particularly focus on developing the ACT’s destination image and increasing its appeal as a leisure, business and lifestyle destination.
I look forward to sitting down with the industry and working with them to develop strategies not only for the long term but also for those pressing problem arising out of the impact of the World Trade Centre attack and the Ansett problems," Mr Berry concluded.