EDITORIAL
Labor Leader and Shadow Minister for Tourism and Hospitality and Events Rebecca White
Supporting our tourism and hospitality businesses and staff With the success of Tasmania’s tourism and hospitality sector over the past couple of decades, it’s hard to believe our beautiful island state hasn’t always been a major tourist drawcard. Along with the natural beauty of so many of our attractions, I know our tourism success story is also down to the hard work of thousands of operators and staff to give visitors an unforgettable experience. News that hotel occupancy rates have bounced back to almost pre-pandemic levels shows the importance of these efforts. But we can’t become complacent, especially with the growing popularity of other markets – as Steve Old has pointed out, tourism and hospitality is now a hotly contested market. The Tasmanian Hospitality Association’s Great Customer Experience Program (GCE) has been instrumental in building up an industry we can be rightly proud of. Having a customised program, free to tourism and hospitality businesses, on-site at their location, has helped business develop a culture of excellence in customer service, which is vital to the success of any business dealing with people. For the more than 1.2 million tourists who visited Tasmania in the year to September 2023, a great experience not only has the potential to entice them back here, it also means they’re more likely to recommend a trip to Tassie to their friends and family. And if the magnificent scenery and attractions are backed up with exceptional customer service, it’s a thumbs up all round.
REBECCA WHITE WITH MARNA AND GERT, OWNERS OF DALOCA BAKERY & CAFÉ IN BURNIE
As someone who started out working in the hospitality industry, I know how important this is and what a difference it can make. So, the Labor team and I are right behind GCE and its role in cementing our reputation as a great place to visit. These sorts of programs benefit everyone – businesses, staff and customers and, ultimately, Tasmania, with tourists spending more than $3.6 billion in the year to September 2023. We need to do all we can to support Tasmanians in the industry and the GCE is a no-brainer in providing the right kind of support to businesses and workers, and keeping our tourism and hospitality industry strong, healthy and thriving.
17 Tasmanian Hospitality Review February/March Edition
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