Foreword
For the past 15 years, the Tasmanian Hospitality Association has worked through memorandum of understandings with all political parties to elevate the hospitality sector into a premium experience for both locals and visitors. Hospitality is the state’s third largest employing industry, providing opportunities for people of all walks of life to enter a career which can take them to all corners of the globe. Two years of dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic brought a screeching halt to the mass of momentum that was building. Damage was done, but the strong foundations of our
As our state continues to recover and grow following the impact of COVID-19, our hospitality industry demonstrates why it is the lifeblood of our regional communities. This important sector employs eight per cent of Tasmania’s workforce. Our 2 417 operating businesses invest $557 million in our state through salaries, and more than $723 million into the economy overall. However, there are still challenges ahead, and I congratulate the Tasmanian Hospitality Association (THA) on Hospitality 2030 – a vital piece of work to address the key issues facing the industry right now. From industry engagement, to developing and nurturing
industry shone through as we emerge on the other side. Hospitality venues and their staff are the heartbeat of local communities and the first point of contact for visitors and will continue to be so. What is vitally important is to not only focus on strengthening the sector now, but also put stepping stones in place to ensure it remains viable and vibrant well into the future. It is why we have spent the past 18 months engaging with a wide range of key hospitality stakeholders and consumers across the state to develop our visionary document Hospitality 2030. This will be our guiding document on an eight-year journey, where we ambitiously aim to further engrain and enhance this state’s amazing produce, businesses, staff and experiences. Our consultations have uncovered a range of key priorities and areas of focus which require addressing, and we need to start now – understanding Hospitality 2030 will evolve and align with new challenges and issues we encounter in the coming years. With continued support from the State Government for our programs and initiatives which assist workforce development and upskilling the sector, we can safeguard the future of this wonderful industry.
strategic partnerships, to an extensive program of activities that promote the industry and what it’s known for, the THA has put forward a clear and considered vision. One of the most critical strategic challenges is workforce development. We know there is no industry without the people behind it. Through a suite of engagement and training initiatives, the THA will work to improve the industry’s access to a skilled workforce capable of matching our state’s global reputation as a destination. As part of our support for this industry, our government has provided the Tasmanian Hospitality Association with an additional $7 million to support the sector over the next three years, which is being used to develop new and extend existing initiatives, including Hospitality 2030. I commend the THA for working across the sector to develop an industry-led Strategy. The delivery of these actions will help to ensure that our hospitality businesses and workers are well positioned to weather challenges and continue to prosper into the future.
STEVE OLD CEO TASMANIAN HOSPITALITY ASSOCIATION
HON NIC STREET MP MINISTER FOR HOSPITALITY AND EVENTS
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