Page 272 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 31 May 1989
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The impact of conventions right across the board is important as a great proportion of the money left in a city by delegates is spent with the retail sector. The Government will seek to work with retailers to ensure that we maximise the opportunities presented by tourism. The ACT's potential will not be realised unless sensible promotional measures are put in place. We will never have access to the level of resources available to other cities. However, we have performed well in the past with the limited resources made available. Our close competitor, the Northern Territory, devoted $16m to its tourist commission last year compared with the $3m provided to the Canberra Tourist Bureau. We received many more visitors.
It is therefore vital that our marketing is done in a professional and coordinated way. Clear lines of communication and consultation will be vital to the future success of tourism in the ACT. I have been very conscious of criticism both now and in the past that government departments cannot be effective in the tourism industry. I think that the argument has nothing to do with whether the public sector or private sector is more efficient; it is simply a matter of management. There is a role for government in providing umbrella marketing support and ensuring that taxpayers' funds are used in an acceptable manner to foster industry development.
I have already moved to free the administration of tourism policy in the ACT and all unnecessary layers of bureaucracy. Therefore in coming to office I immediately flattened the structure in this area. I have instructed the general manager of the Canberra Tourism Development Bureau to report directly to me via the secretary to my department. The Government will also be looking at options for setting up an ACT tourist corporation, as promised by my Government in our election platform. There is an urgent need, however, for avenues of communication to be established between me and the local tourism industry. To get this dialogue going I propose to establish, as soon as possible, an ACT tourism advisory committee.
This body, similar to other advisory councils, will be developed in close consultation with the industry and have representatives of the local industry, government and trade unions. Accordingly the committee will provide independent advice to me on a whole range of issues affecting the industry. It will allow representative parties to put to me a coherent industry case rather than fragmented approaches. It will also serve as a catalyst for the local industry to work together to come up with cooperative ideas which may or may not involve the Government.
My basic approach is that governments can make their best contribution in many areas simply by getting out of the way - by addressing regulatory and infrastructure issues rather than matters which are more the province of the industry. The Government recognises that Canberra's future lies in the hands of the private sector, and our job is to
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