Australia’s shadow tourism minister, Bob Baldwin, says the emerging new confidence across the economy is great news for the nation’s AUD$107 billion tourism industry.
Baldwin made the comments on Thursday (Sep 12), less than a week after the Coalition Government was swept into power in the Australian Federal election.
“The Westpac-Melbourne Institute survey of consumer confidence shows Australians expect a significant improvement in the year ahead and we know that Australia’s tourism industry is a major beneficiary of improved consumer confidence,” Baldwin said.
“Earlier this year respected global property advisers Jones Lang LaSalle reported that, while our political environment and system of government was a strength, political chaos and inconsistent policy was a threat to investment in Australia’s tourism industry.
“With the failed minority government experiment now behind us, and the Coalition purposefully and methodically preparing for government, Australia will once again have an administration that welcomes and supports investment in our tourism industry.
“The Coalition’s Policy for Tourism will lower the tax burden on tourism businesses by rescinding Labor’s carbon tax; freezing the Passenger Movement Charge; and lowering company tax.
“After six years in Government, a cut in funding for Tourism Australia and billions of dollars of new tourism taxes, Labor didn’t even take a tourism policy to the last election,” Baldwin said.