Australian Regional Tourism called on the Federal Government to promptly deliver the planned Tourism 2030 strategy and financial support to rebuild regional tourism.
Australian Regional Tourism (ART) welcomed the recent announcement of new and increased financial support from the Federal and NSW Government to help people and businesses get through the extended lockdown.
However, the new funding is still not enough to support the regional tourism industry through the remainder of the crisis.
"There is still no national tourism strategy to provide a pathway for business recovery and regional tourism measures have never been included in the national strategy." said ART Chair, Coralie Bell.
"Regional Australia has just taken hit after hit, and we are now going on 18 months of crisis with bushfires, floods, cyclones and the pandemic, and this is on the back of a prolonged drought," Bell said
ART wants the Tourism 2030 strategy to be delivered promptly with measurable and achievable regional targets in place.
There should also be a focus placed on financial support that is tied to strategic priority outcomes, it says.
"It’s time to stop talking about what we are going to plan to do and actually do something. Australia’s regional communities are a resilient bunch, but there is only so much we can take." said Bell.
