Australian Tourism Export Council MD Matt Hingerty speaking last week at Meeting Place at Sydney’s Hilton Hotel, said in his keynote opening address that major tourism organisations are not happy with the announcement by Australia’s Federal Tourism Minister Martin Ferguson that the industry should not expect a tourism budget increase in 2009.
He added that this was major blow for the industry and told The Mole that it was particularly a blow for operators in North Queensland, who have been having a hard time.
Hingerty also said that he is a member of the National Tourism Strategy Steering Committee, chaired by former Qantas chair Margaret Jackson, formed by the government to come up with a long term tourism strategy for Australia.
Due to report in April next year, and with the committee having been advised that no additional funds would be provided there are tensions between the committee and the tourism department.
A Report by The Mole
