EDITORIAL
Premier and Minister for Tourism and Hospitality Jeremy Rockliff
There is perhaps no better place to be in summer than Tasmania.
The success of these festivals shows that the summer vibrancy of Tasmania has not been dulled by national economic headwinds. We also know that visitors to Tasmania are staying longer, seeing more of the state, and spending more than they were pre-covid. According to Tourism Tasmania, visitors to the state are staying about 10 nights, a trend we hope continues into the cooler months. Hotel occupancy rates were up by almost two per cent across the state in December 2023 compared to the same period in 2022. Not only are occupancy rates up, but the total number of room nights available in December 2023 increased by almost 7000 compared to the previous December. And on top of that, we are expecting to see nearly 160 cruise ships sail into Tasmanian waters this season, bringing up to 287,000 passengers and 124,000 crew to our shores. The increase in capacity and strong occupancy rates further confirm the uptick in demand and visitation to Tasmania. It is also a sound indication of the strength of the state’s economy, and the strong level of confidence held by tourism and hospitality businesses. According to the December 2023 NAB Monthly Business Survey, Tasmania was the only state to experience a positive trend in business confidence. More specifically to the tourism and hospitality sector, through the 2030 Visitor Economy Strategy, the Government will continue to invest to sustainably grow visitation to the state and keep the economy strong to create jobs over the immediate and long-term. I have no doubt the entire summer season will be a positive one for our tourism and hospitality businesses whose remarkable efforts to provide exceptional experiences for locals and visitors alike ensures that more and more visitors choose Tasmania as their holiday destination, not just over the summer, but throughout the entire year.
The weather is warm, but not too warm, the days are long, and the list of festivals, events and things to see is seemingly endless. With so much on offer in our own backyard, it is no wonder we welcomed nearly 122,000 visitors to our state in December. The whole state is abuzz with a range of world-class events that our hospitality venues support. I’ve personally loved seeing Tasmania’s summer hotspots come alive with people enjoying their holidays. One of my favourite events is the Taste of Summer, Hobart’s headline festival, which was extended over a nine-day period this year. Close to 100,000 people – including 30,000 visitors from interstate – ate, drank, and danced into the evenings at what’s being labelled the best Taste of Summer festival, ever. Festival goers were spoilt for choice with 90 curated stallholders showcasing some of Tasmania’s finest produce and beverages. It was also great to see that one third of the stall holders at this year’s event were new additions to the Taste, highlighting how this event helps to showcase new businesses. The Taste of Summer coincides with the iconic Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race that attracted thousands of competitors and their friends and families from across the globe, mingling alongside supportive locals on the Hobart waterfront. This was followed by a hugely successful Hobart International tennis tournament reporting record ticket sales. But it’s not just Hobart having all the fun. Festivale, in the north of the state, sold out across the February weekend, with close to 30,000 patrons enjoying the great live entertainment and premium Tasmanian food and beverages on offer.
15 Tasmanian Hospitality Review February/March Edition
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