EDITORIAL
Labor Leader and Shadow Minister for Tourism, Hospitality and Events Rebecca White
No time to waste on regional tourism projects
It’s the same story with the redevelopment of the former tourist attraction at Dismal Swamp on the North West Coast, which closed in 2019. The Federal Labor Government committed $12.5 million to Project Far Northwest in 2022 but the development has been held up by State Government delays. Project Far Northwest is projected to bring an additional 10,000 visitor to the far North West, and $9 million in annual visitor expenditure in Tasmania. And, critically, it would capitalise on the booming caravan and camping sector, the new Spirit of Tasmania vessels, and provide a big boost in visitor numbers to the region.
The contribution tourism and hospitality make to Tasmania’s economy is without question.
And it’s not just our major cities and towns – drive journeys have become increasingly important, with visitors venturing out into our beautiful regional areas to experience what the state has to offer – whether it’s a coastal drive through some of our most beautiful scenery or visiting our impressive vineyards and sampling some of Tasmania’s home-grown wine. These tours not only contribute to Tasmania’s overall visitor economy, but are also a vital part of our regional economies, bringing tourists to see some of the most authentic experiences our state offers and supporting local businesses, particularly restaurants, cafes and pubs. We know the state has an abundance of must-see attractions but there are regions where projects have been promised that Labor wants to see more actively progressed. One area known for its stunning beauty is the Huon Valley – but the 2019 bushfires had a huge impact and led to a fall in visitor numbers and left communities doing it tough. That’s why it’s disappointing that it’s taken so long to get the new Transformer art installation in the Huon up and running. The Federal Government announced funding for the project in 2019, with initial hopes that it would be completed by January 2024. And after some initial planning delays the project was approved earlier this year. We want to see every effort made to get this project completed as soon as possible to support local businesses and tourism jobs in the Huon.
Projects like this need to be treated as priorities so that our regional communities and businesses can benefit as much as possible from Tasmania’s popularity as a tourist destination – and the government has no time to waste in getting them up and running as soon as possible. Meanwhile, I wish all hospitality operators and workers a bumper season, a merry Christmas and a happy new year.
17 Tasmanian Hospitality Review December/January Edition
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