FEDERAL Lyons MP Eric Hutchinson is calling on those involved in the tourist industry in Lyons to share their future plans with him.
The feedback will be part of an audit of tourism infrastructure in the Lyons electorate that Mr Hutchinson will conduct over the next couple of months.
The information will be handed to the appropriate government departments such as the Department of Foreign Affairs so that the material can be used by federal department officers when talking to potential international and national investors or making decisions about possible funding.
Mr Hutchinson welcomed the appointment of Tasmanian Senator Richard Colbeck as the new Federal Tourism Minister.
“It’s an ideal time for Tasmania with the appointment of a new federal tourism minister, to take stock of what is going on in Lyons and start planning for future opportunities,” Mr Hutchinson said.
Tasmanian Senator Richard Colbeck took on the tourism portfolio as part of the Cabinet reshuffle after Malcolm Turnbull became Prime Minister.
Mr Hutchinson said that Senator Colbeck’s appointment was good news for Tasmania at a time when there was huge potential for growth in the sector.
He said that the State’s tourism industry had always punched above its weight and it was important to maintain that momentum.
“We have many of the most iconic places for visitors in Lyons like Maria Island, Mt Field National Park, Cradle Mountain and Port Arthur,” he said.
Mr Hutchinson is calling on operators in Lyons to contribute to his tourism audit to build a plan for tourism expansion in the state which fits with the Federal Government’s Tourism 2020 Strategy aimed at achieving Australia’s tourism potential.
“I’m looking for a diverse range of information from roads to rest stops to multi lingual signage to accommodation and food,” he said.
He also hopes for local government input to the audit.
“We would also be encouraging local government to authorise within state planning guidelines the land in their municipalities that would be suitable for tourism infrastructure,” Mr Hutchinson said.
“We are looking for an audit of the gaps that exist in the tourism sector that both levels of government might put money into.
“It might be viewing platforms like the whale watching platforms on the East Coast that received federal funding last month or signage for dangerous corners for visiting motorists up to the major tourism investments proposed across Lyons.”
Tourism is one of five national investment priorities for the Federal Government with national tourism investment of nearly $54 billion in the pipeline.
Senator Colbeck said that last year tourism contributed more than $1 billion or four per cent of Tasmania’s economy, 15,000 direct jobs and 22,400 indirect jobs in Tasmania.
The future looks bright for the tourism sector in Tasmania with international visitors up 22 per cent in 2014-15 to 198,000 including domestic overnight trips up 10.9 per cent to 2.3 million.
China is Tasmania’s biggest international market, up 38 per cent to 28,000 visitors last financial year ahead of the UK on 25,000 visitors and the US on 24,000.
To contribute to Mr Hutchinson’s tourism audit please phone the Perth electorate office, 0363981115 or email [email protected] with your ideas.
FEDERAL Lyons MP Eric Hutchinson
