EDITORIAL
Minister for Hospitality and Small Business Jane Howlett
When it comes to business, Tasmania is in good shape.
recognised training and other support to address the current workforce priorities, as well as working with the Tasmanian Hospitality Association on the Club’s Tasmania Program to build capability of community clubs and RSLs in training, HR, budgeting and other operational practices. We will continue the ongoing work of the THA under the Hospitality 2030 Strategy, including regional in- dustry engagement via the Regional Tourism Organi- sations, promoting the hospitality industry, supporting events, sustainability goals, workforce development and, importantly, promoting hospitality careers path- ways in schools. The THA’s Great Customer Experience Program has been a success with around 900 venues taking part. State Growth is working with venue managers and staff to improve business operations and elevate the customer experience. We are continuing to support the hospitality indus- try’s supporting women in leadership program, which is providing the opportunity for women to upskill and inspiring them to undertake roles in leadership. There were 15 scholarships awarded in the second intake in 2024 and I am sure this will see a greater representa- tion of women in these roles in the hospitality industry in the long-term. Many small business owners have told us that one of the difficulties in attracting workers to regional areas is the problem of accommodation.
Our State is a great place to invest and explore new opportunities and current business conditions that put Tasmania ahead of most other state’s reflect that. With good conditions comes confidence. As I travel around the State visiting small business, they tell me they are optimistic about the future and are experienc- ing strong demand for their products and services. In the tourism and hospitality sector there has been a promising start to the new year, showing great resil- ience following the ups and downs of recent years. The iconic Taste of Summer festival has celebrated increased visitor numbers, Festivale sold out in record time and smaller celebrations around Tasmania are reporting good patronage. This comes as no surprise and speaks volumes about the popularity of Tassie produce, hospitality and entertainment. An important part of our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasma- nia’s Future is to provide support to our hospitality and small businesses so they have the confidence to grow, invest and create jobs. The Government has worked closely with the Tas- manian Small Business Council and the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry to find ways to progress the opportunities available to business and build capacity. This month, I unveiled the final version of the 2026 Small Business Growth Strategy Imple- mentation Plan which is guiding the work being done by the Tasmanian Government and the private sector to help businesses. We have been involved in a wide range of work includ- ing hosting business networking events that encour- age peer to peer mentoring and strategic business relationships. We are providing funding for Visitor Experience Train- ing to support training activity that targets areas of need in the hospitality and tourism sectors.
We are working with the Office of the Coordinator General to find a solution to this issue.
There are 131 activities identified in the Small Business Growth Strategy, with more than 90 per cent of them either completed, in progress or ongoing. The Tasmanian Government is delivering on our com- mitment to engage with hospitality and small business sector so businesses can grow in the way they choose.
Together we can grow new opportunities that will strengthen the industry.
The Government is providing, through Skills Tasma- nia, a range of programs for the delivery of nationally
17 Tasmanian Hospitality Review Oct/Nov Edition
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