EDITORIAL
Labor Leader Josh Willie
Tasmania’s tourism and hospitality sector is a driving force for jobs and the economy, and plays an enormous role in making our state the best place in the world to live. Over summer, we are lucky to have great events such as the Taste of Summer in Hobart and Festivale in Launceston among many others, which give a showcase of the best of the state’s food and drink. This year, we saw the Foo Fighters come to Launceston which showed that Tassie can match it with anywhere in nation when it comes to hosting big events. While the colder months can still bring some challenges, we’ve seen the transformative effect of MONA which has helped pave the way for many other businesses to celebrate the best of Tassie winter. We’re also hotly anticipating the transformative effect of the Devils AFL and AFLW teams on the sector, with their entry into the leagues now confirmed. Hospitality Tasmania’s Hotel Occupancy Report showed that 2025 was the third best year on record for average annual occupancy rate, which is a strong indicator for the health of the visitor economy. It’s also a testament to the fantastic hospitality businesses that make up the sector, who continue to play a huge role in putting Tassie on the map.
Tourism and hospitality go hand in hand. When more people are coming to Tasmania and staying for longer, it can have a great flow on effect to local restaurants, bars and cafes which help make up the quintessential Tassie experience. That’s why the Government’s proposed short stay levy – which is essentially a tourism tax – is hard to understand. It won’t fix housing, it won’t fix the budget, but it will hurt local tourism – particularly mum and dad businesses in regional areas. When the Liberals first announced their tourist tax two years ago, Labor immediately raised concerns about the impacts on families and on small local businesses. With the Spirits of Tasmania debacle and cost of living crisis, many regional providers have had a tough few years, and they’re looking for support from the government, not raised taxes. If the Government is willing to slap a tax on mum and dad businesses in regional Tasmania, what’s in their sights next? By supporting thousands of jobs across the state, hospitality is an integral part of Tasmania’s economy. But even more than that, it’s an integral part of what makes Tassie such a great place to live. Labor will continue to support the sector and continue to stand up against efforts like this to hold it back.
17 Tasmanian Hospitality Review February/March Edition
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