EDITORIAL
Minister for Hospitality and Small Business Jane Howlett
Tasmania’s tourism and hospitality sector continues to forge ahead with lots to be celebrated as we head towards the end of 2024 and launch into 2025. Recent successes by six Tasmanian businesses at the Australian Hotels Association National Awards for Excellence sends a message to the rest of the country and the world that Tasmania is the place to visit. Tasmania’s premium produce, seafood, meat and wines are the envy of the world and our chefs and restauranteurs, pubs and clubs are showcasing it at a level that is top class. That’s not to say that 2024 has been an easy year. Some parts of the State have had lower than usual occupancy rates across the winter, while others have had better than expected patronage. I have spoken with many business owners and indus- try representatives since I was sworn in as Minister for Hospitality and Small Business and I reassure you that our Government is listening to what you have to say.
Almost 70 per cent of these bookings are people coming from the mainland – that’s tens of thousands of travellers spending money at Tasmanian business- es – your businesses. We have also sought additional day sailings and will invest $6 million to subsidise passenger fares. To increase aviation capacity across the State and attract more visitors flying in, we have invested an additional $500,000 on top of the existing $5 million aviation fund. More visitors means more money is injected into our economy. Locally we are helping our tourism and hospitality businesses and councils to prepare for the arrival of the new Spirit vessels with an additional $5 million in a Spirit Preparedness Fund. The fund will support the development of new prod- ucts and offerings, it will enhance existing attractions and support councils to deliver key infrastructure such as EV charging stations. We are also encouraging people to spend within the local economy, so we have revived the successful voucher scheme for Tasmanians. We will provide 100,000 vouchers valued at $100 each as part of out latest voucher scheme – Eat Local, Stay Local – to encourage Tasmanians to travel and eat out during winter 2025. Our Government is also committed to securing more events and business events for the State, so we have established a $5 million Events Tasmania Attraction Fund to facilitate this. I support the small business and hospitality commu- nity to the hilt and through roundtable discussions I am pleased to say that careful consideration is being given to the timing and details for the announced initiatives.
Small business is something I am passionate about because that’s where I came from.
I know that with the right supports, small businesses can grow and thrive, which is why we’re backing in the hospitality and tourism sector as part of our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future. Our Government has introduced a suite of initiatives that are designed to drive visitation and to support our economy that will be delivered across peak and off-season periods. November’s Black Friday sales drove Spirit of Tasma- nia bookings, with more than 17,000 people taking up the offer of reduced passenger fares and cabins for travel between 1 February and 30 June next year.
15 Tasmanian Hospitality Review Oct/Nov Edition
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