ATEC welcomes Minister Birmingham back to tourism

THE Australian Tourism Export Council today congratulated Senator Simon Birmingham on his return to the role of Minister for Tourism and welcomes the new role of Assistant Minister for Regional Tourism which will be held by Senator Jonathon Duniam.

“Minister Birmingham took on the tourism portfolio in August last year and his reappointment to the role gives us the opportunity to continue to grow our relationship with his office and build on our advocacy for the tourism industry,” ATEC managing director, Peter Shelley said.

“We are also very pleased to see recognition for our regional industry members with Senator Duniam appointed as Assistant Minister for Regional Tourism, providing a firm focus on developing regional tourism with a view to increasing regional dispersal of domestic and international travellers.

“Our industry is strong and robust but we have some significant challenges to overcome in delivering a continuing economic success for Australia.

“These challenges centre around questions relating to maintaining our competitiveness as an attractive tourism destination over the coming years, and how we ensure the delivery of high quality, authentic Australian experiences - key questions to our future success -  and ATEC will be working with the Government to highlight these issues and find solutions.

“ATEC calling on the new Morrisson Government to embrace an ‘an all of Government approach’ to address issues which are impeding the growth of the tourism industry threatening to erode the momentum of what is a $44bn export industry that grew at more than 7 percent in the past year.”