AUSTRALIA’S re-imagined visitor economy strategy must be positioned as the centrepiece of Australia’s economic diplomacy and regional prosperity agenda, The Business Events Council of Australia (BECA) believes.
The comments come in response to the Federal Government’s draft long-term tourism strategy to 2030 (THRIVE 2030), with BECA cautioning the government that for a full tourism recovery to take place, it must take into consideration more than just visitor spend and jobs.
“This is a critical once-in-a-decade opportunity to get the foundations and strategic direction right,” BECA Secretary, Andrew Hiebl said.
“Given the major disruption that the visitor economy and business events industry has endured over the last two years due to Australia’s response to the global coronavirus pandemic, the next long-term strategy holds great responsibility – THRIVE 2030 must bring together an industry that has been hardest hit and inspire with a strategic vision that will drive our success through the decade ahead,” he added.
Among the list of suggestions submitted to Australia’s Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Dan Tehan, was the need for a whole-of-government approach to tourism which would include performance measures put in place for government departments regarding policy and programs, not just Austrade.
BECA also highlighted the strong case for the business events industry, which it said holds the key for delivering any planned tourism recovery strategy the government wants to implement.
These include securing high-yield spend, attracting global talent & knowledge transfers, stimulating trade, encouraging foreign investment, nurturing research collaboration, fostering innovation, and boosting productivity & diplomacy.
“THRIVE 2030 must bring together an industry that has been hardest hit and inspire with a strategic vision that will drive success through the decade ahead – it must provide a future focus the industry can rally behind,” Hiebl added.
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Source: traveldaily