Page 17 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 22 February 1994
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not only in statistical data but by our achievements at the national tourism awards. Festivals increasingly form a major part of the Canberra tourism calendar and the Events Unit set up by the Government has been very successful in attracting and developing festivals and sporting events for the ACT. The Commonwealth Pacific Power Cycle Classic, the Esanda Car Rally, the National Folk Festival, the Osibi African Festival, the National Science Festival and, more recently, World Cup Show Jumping demonstrate that the ACT is an attractive location for major events. We have managed to attract a large number of visitors, especially during traditionally slow tourist periods.
This year will see a new addition to the festival calendar with the first Autumnfest being held over eight days in April and May. Autumnfest will focus on the brilliant colours of autumn as well as the variety offered by a large chrysanthemum display. It is expected that this festival will grow over the coming years to be like Floriade, a tourist drawcard for the ACT with truly national and international appeal. The Government is also positioning the Territory to take full advantage of the opportunities for business and tourism offered by the year 2000 Olympics in Sydney. We have commissioned a report by the end of this year from the ACT 2000 Committee on how to maximise the benefits for the ACT.
Tourism, growth and prosperity depend on effective marketing. In recent years I have been encouraged by the continuing success of ACT industry in national and international markets. As a Territory we are now looking beyond our borders to make new markets and business opportunities. This year the Government will strengthen the tourism links made during my Japan visit. South-East Asia and Japan are prime areas to target our marketing activities, and the major Japanese inbound tour operators have already shown a high level of interest in developing inbound package tours. The visiting soccer teams from the J-League Association who played here recently are another tangible example of the opportunities which have arisen through our contacts with the Japanese market. The Tourism Commission will concentrate on developing these sporting links with a view to staging major tournaments, as well as our target markets in Japan and South-East Asia.
I believe that local business confidence is growing and the time is right to market the ACT aggressively in targeted national and international markets. This is an important and exciting priority for 1994 and my Government will be increasing its activities in this area. In this context I am particularly pleased that planning is on target for the first intake of local, interstate and international students in 1995 at the Australian International Hotel School, which I recently announced. Madam Speaker, the Government is also fostering the cooperative marketing of ACT education for overseas students. The ACT business delegation to Japan served to reinforce the importance of external marketing, highlighting many new business opportunities. The business delegation featured a special partnership between the Government and the business community - a partnership I wish to maintain and strengthen in marketing both the business potential of the ACT and opportunities for existing ACT companies. I am sure members will agree that such cooperative work must underpin all of our economic development activities.
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