THE Victoria Tourism Industry Council (VTIC) has applauded the state’s tourism industry for the significant growth achieved in visitor numbers and expenditure over the past year.

The recently released Tourism Research Australia “International Visitor Survey” shows that for the year ended June 2014 Victoria performed well overall: 

“International visitor expenditure” grew by 8.1 percent to $4.9 billion, outperforming growth for New South Wales (+6.1 percent to $6.9 billion), Queensland (unchanged at $4.0 billion) and the national average (+3.5 percent).

“International overnight visitors” grew (+10.9 percent to 2.05 million) to exceed 2 million for the first time.

VTIC chief executive Dianne Smith said although China continues to be the leading source market, it is pleasing to see growth from traditional markets such as the United Kingdom and the United States, in terms of both visitor numbers and expenditure.

Importantly, expenditure in regional Victoria showed strong growth (+23.8 percent to $368 million), exceeding the previous high recorded for June 2012. There was also strong growth in visitors to (+17.5 percent year-on-year to 375,400) and nights in (+7.5 percent to 6.0 million) regional Victoria, with both at record levels. Visitors to regional Victoria increased from both Eastern (+28.5 percent) and Western (+14.2 percent) markets.

Ms Smith said continued efforts are needed to ensure regional Victoria reaps tourism’s benefits.

“It’s positive to see improvement in expenditure, visitor numbers and nights in regional Victoria, but compared to the state totals, the proportion of international visitors travelling to, and spending in, regional Victoria is modest,” said Ms Smith.

“More work is required to develop high quality products and experiences in regional Victoria, with a culturally appropriate interpretation, that will entice more international visitors. This is one of VTIC’s key recommendations for the major parties in the 2014 state election.”

The results of the National Visitor Survey for the year ended June 2014 will be released on 10 September and Ms Smith said the industry looks forward to seeing how Victoria fares in regard to domestic travel.

The Victoria Tourism Industry Council (VTIC) is the peak body for Victoria’s tourism and events industry, providing one united industry voice.

Tourism and events are growth industries for Victoria and contribute $19.6 billion to the state economy each year and employ more than 200,000 people.

www.vtic.com.au

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THE Queensland Government is celebrating 2014 Queensland Small Business Week in Brisbane today by releasing a book showcasing some of the state’s brightest stars.

Queensland Premier Campbell Newman released the e-book, entitled Shining bright: a celebration of Queensland’s small business, at the official launch of the Week at Ithaca Auditorium, City Hall at 12.30pm.

Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and the Commonwealth Games Jann Stuckey MP said 17 businesses in Brisbane, Townsville, Gold Coast, Moranbah, Mt Isa, Roma, Cairns, Rockhampton, Toowoomba, Yandina, and Tully were chosen for their great stories of success.

“Small businesses are critical to growing Queensland’s four pillar industries – tourism, agriculture, resources and construction – and form a key part of the supply chains for larger projects,” Ms Stuckey said.

“With approximately 403,000 small business in Queensland, they span every industry sector and employ around 50 percent of all private sector workers.

"Shining bright highlights how these businesses have made a positive contribution to their local community.”

About 200 guests attended the event When Small Business Thinks BIG, featuring an address by Professor Josh Lerner, Jacob H. Schiff Professor of Investment Banking at Harvard Business School and head of the Entrepreneurial Management Unit.

Professor Lerner is a member of the World Economic Forum, at which he presents annually on small business issues and entrepreneurship.

He has drawn on his vast experience running Harvard’s flagship executive education program for smaller, fast-growing businesses to provide insight into how business can flourish when it thinks “big”.

Speaking in the lead-up to the event, Professor Lerner emphasised the importance of entrepreneurship to the country’s economic growth and vitality and the role governments play in recognising that importance and adjusting policies to support it.

Professor Lerner said Queensland was “region which has many blessings, not least of which is its abundant natural resources".

“But if the region is to thrive over the next century, it almost surely will have to bolster its entrepreneurial sector: around the world, these ventures have been a key source of economic growth, additional employment, and innovation,” he said.

“Thus, 2014 Queensland Small Business Week effort is an important initiative to boost this vital sector of the economy.”

Professor Lerner said there was no “secret source” or one formula that translates into entrepreneurial success.

“The proper recipe is likely to vary with the structure of the industry and nature of the opportunity that the firm is pursuing,” he said.

“Nonetheless, there have been some recent insights as to what strategies characterize successful entrepreneurs.

“One of the key messages that has emerged in recent work is the importance of experimentation.

“Entrepreneurs are unlikely to have the resources to undertake the kind of comprehensive study and massive launches of new products and services that characterize major corporations.

“But they can move more rapidly, and adjust quickly to what they learn from the market, which gives them a critical advantage.”

2014 Queensland Small Business Week recognises the role small business plays in the Queensland economy.

Business owners are attending more than 200 events and activities across Queensland during the Week, all of which are designed to either inspire them, or help to build their business.

Minister Stuckey will host an event on the Sunshine Coast tomorrow with US CEO of TerraCycle, Tom Szaky, and in Roma on Friday with Matthew Hayden.

The e-book can downloaded free from the Queensland Government Business and Industry Portal www.business.gov.au/smallbusinessweek

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Peak retail industry body the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) said the seasonally adjusted rise (0.4 percent increase) in monthly retail trade figures (month-on-month) reported today by the ABS followed a 0.6 percent rise in June 2014.

Year on year retail growth also rose 5.8 percent in July 2014, seasonally adjusted, compared to July 2013.

ARA Executive Director Russell Zimmerman said that after an unseasonably warm start to winter and post-Federal Budget drop in consumer confidence, retailers saw only a slight upswing in sales in July - largely thanks to the change in weather and last-minute EOFY sales.

“Winter had well and truly arrived in July and it’s no surprise department stores experienced an increase in sales (1.9%), with many consumers heading to their local department store to stock up on much-needed items to get through the cooler months. 

“It’s interesting to note that cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services also benefitted from the change the season (1.4% increase) as well as food retailing (0.5% increase). As we all know, during winter consumers often choose to keep warm at their local restaurant or order takeaways with their friends and family. Food retailing often enjoys a boost in sales at this time of year as the outside weather can deter consumers from other activities.

“Some other categories including clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (0.1%) and household good retailing (-0.2%) remained relatively flat in July, and according to the Australian Retail Index (delivered by BDO and Retail Express), stagnant retail sales in July mirrored similar results seen this time last year.

“Overall, turnover rose in New South Wales (0.7%), Victoria (0.6%), the Australian Capital Territory (2.6%), South Australia (0.4%) and Queensland (0.1%). These rises were partially offset by falls in the Northern Territory (-2.3%), Western Australia (-0.1%) and Tasmania (-0.4%).

“With the festive season right around the corner, the ARA is urging the Federal Government and RBA to do all that they can to ensure that retail trade is fully supported as we gear up toward the spring/summer racing season and the Christmas trading period,” Mr Zimmerman said. 

MONTHLY RETAIL GROWTH (June 2014 – July 2014 seasonally adjusted)

Department stores (1.9%), Cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (1.4%), Food retailing (0.5%),  Clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (0.1%), Household goods retailing (-0.2%) and Other retailing (-0.6%). Total sales (0.4%).

Australian Capital Territory (2.6%). New South Wales (0.7%), Victoria (0.6%), South Australia (0.4%), Queensland (0.1%), Western Australia (-0.1%), Tasmania (-0.4) and Northern Territory (-2.3%). Total sales (0.4%).

YEAR-ON-YEAR RETAIL GROWTH (July  2013 – July 2014 seasonally adjusted)

Cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (10.8%), Department stores (8.2%), Food retailing (5.5%), Household goods retailing (5.3%), Other retailing (3.6%) and Clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (2.1%) .Total sales (5.8%).

New South Wales (9.7%), Tasmania (7.9%), Victoria (6.4%), Queensland (3.4%), South Australia (2.1%), Northern Territory (2.0%), Western Australia (1.8%) and Australian Capital Territory (0.6%). Total sales (5.8%).

Since 1903, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has been the peak industry body representing Australia’s $265 billion retail sector, which employs over 1.2 million people. The ARA ensures retail success by informing, protecting, advocating, educating and saving money for its 5,000 independent and national retail members throughout Australia.

Visit www.retail.org.au or call 1300 368 041.

MORE than one hundred Queensland businesses are on the road to growing their revenue following the first 2014 Queensland Small Business Week event in Brisbane today.

Business owners from Brisbane, Townsville, Pittsworth, Gold Coast, Mount Isa, Sunshine Coast either attended or live-streamed a panel discussion about becoming one of Queensland’s Small Business Tigers at QUT Gardens Point, Brisbane.

The event Are you a Small Business Tiger? How do you become one? was the first of five events to be hosted by Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Business and the Commonwealth Games from 1-6 September.

2014 Queensland Small Business Week is a Queensland Government initiative recognising the role small business plays in the Queensland economy.

The panel included:

• Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and the Commonwealth Games, Jann Stuckey MP
• QUT Business School’s Professor Per Davidsson
• Media personality turned entrepreneur Emily Jade O’Keeffe
• Managing Director of DBM Consultants Dhruba Ghupta
• Chief Marketing Officer of Liquid State Kit Kriewaldt
• Paul Niederer, CEO from Australian Small Scale Offerings.

Ms Stuckey said participants heard how a Queensland company was taking on the world with their products and from an authority on how entrepreneurs start, develop and harvest their ventures.

Also on this week in Brisbane, Premier Campbell Newman will officially launch 2014 Queensland Small Business Week at a business lunch at Ithaca Auditorium, City Hall on Tuesday, 2 September. The keynote speaker is Professor Josh Lerner, the Jacob H. Schiff Professor of Investment Banking at Harvard Business School, and head of the Entrepreneurial Management Unit, USA.

On the Sunshine Coast, the CEO of “America’s coolest little start-up” TerraCycle, Tom Szaky, will join Facebook consultant and entrepreneur Nick Bowditch on stage at the Sunshine Coast University Innovation Centre on Wednesday 3 September. The event #Accelerating Small Business includes a question and answer session with the guests.

On Friday, 5 September former international cricketer Matthew Hayden will address a business lunch, Turn your ideas into action, at Roma Explorers Inn.

Registrations are now open at www.business.qld.gov.au/smallbusinessweek. 

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