BY JAMES WILKINSON
Australia’s Minister for Tourism Martin Ferguson is using the annual G’Day USA event across the United States this week to further push the nation as a must-see travel destination.
Ferguson is attending G’Day USA events in Los Angeles, Washington DC and Houston alongside meetings with airline executives and participating in tourism roundtables.
“Australia’s economic prosperity is closely tied to ongoing foreign investment, particularly in the resources, energy and tourism sectors with the USA being one of our most important markets,” Ferguson said.
“North America has always been an important traditional market for Australia’s tourism industry.
“While there have been recent declines in visitor arrivals from the USA, due primarily to economic factors, it remains a market that we need to focus on developing from a tourism perspective,” he said.
The USA remains one of the most important inbound markets for Australia and New Zealand, and significant challenges remain in the market as both currencies continue to trade at record levels against the greenback.