Page 2624 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 7 August 2013
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As I am sure members have heard me observe on many previous occasions, tourism is indeed a vital part of the territory economy. I can advise the Assembly that the latest data from Tourism Research Australia shows that tourism contributes now over $1.6 billion to our economy each year, 5.1 per cent of our gross state product. Data shows that the tourism sector is one of the territory’s largest employers, generating 16,000 jobs now, representing 7.8 per cent of total territory employment. As such, boosting our tourism and events sector is an important part of overall economic growth in the territory.
It is clear that events are an important part of Canberra’s tourism offering but also are an important part of the experience of living in this city. A vibrant events calendar does a great deal to enhance the overall tourism experience in the national capital. In addition to attracting tourists, there are a great range of events that Canberrans can attend and enjoy.
To outline how much the territory economy benefits from some of our major events, I will give you a brief snapshot. Floriade last year attracted 122,000 interstate or international visitors and resulted in an increase in direct expenditure in the territory economy of $27.6 million.
Business events are an increasingly important part of our tourism sector. Last month I was pleased to be able to announce that the Canberra Convention Bureau had achieved its 2012-13 target of generating $41.6 million in confirmed business, delivering 66,400 nights of accommodation room occupancy into the Canberra economy. This represents a five per cent increase in overnight stays generated by the bureau over the previous fiscal year.
The Toulouse-Lautrec exhibition at the National Gallery attracted over 170,000 visitors, making it one of the gallery’s top 10 visited exhibitions of all time. Almost 80 per cent of those 170,000 visitors travelled to Canberra to attend the exhibition and it provided an estimated $37 million injection into the territory economy. The accommodation sector also benefited greatly from the exhibition, with 18,869 room and exhibition ticket packages sold. This represents an increase of over 2,000 packages on the Renaissance exhibition.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Ms Berry.
MS BERRY: Minister, how have the centenary year events added to Canberra’s economy?
MR BARR: The centenary year has provided important opportunities to showcase the city as a great destination to visit. Pleasingly, Australians have taken up that opportunity. The number of Australians visiting the ACT for a holiday increased 53 per cent in the March quarter of this year compared to the same period in 2012, the latest figures from Tourism Research Australia show. The number of people who have come here to visit friends and relatives in the first quarter of the centenary year rose 30 per cent on the same quarter last year. It is no coincidence that this coincided with a big program of events for our city.
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