Council
31 May, 2024
Cuts to regional tourism a concern
SUBSTANTIAL funding cuts to the tourism sector in Victoria is cause for concern according to Member for South West Coast Roma Britnell.
In parliament last week Ms Britnell expressed her concerns over the funding cuts, believed to total $393 million, and the risk this posed on the prosperity of future events in the area.
“These cuts come hot on the heels of more than 30,000 people attending the Warrnambool May Racing Carnival, one of the premier events on the south west calendar,” she said.
“The carnival brings visitors and tourism to the region, providing a financial boom each May.
“Our regional events bring so much vibrancy and life to our regions and contribute millions to regional economies, so to cut funding now is not only short sighted it also threatens to have a major impact on the economic stability of regional towns.”
Ms Britnell said events such as the racing carnival, the Melbourne to Warrnambool Cycling Classic, the world renowned Grand Annual Sprint Car Classic, Port Fairy Folk Festival, Heywood’s Wood Wine and Roses, and the Portland Upwelling Festival were just a few of many events which bring visitors to the area.
Recent visitor survey data from Tourism Research Australia confirmed Victorian international tourism spending was at 73 per cent of pre-pandemic levels, compared to 96 per cent in New South Wales and 94 per cent in Queensland.
“It’s clear that this government and the Minister for Tourism have no idea how destination marketing works,” Ms Britnell said.
“If they engaged with anyone in the sector, they would know that major events are only a small piece of the puzzle for attracting visitors to the state.
“Investing in events and tourism pays back dividends for our regions - supporting local jobs and economies. It is concerning to see $393 million cut from the tourism sector in this month’s State Budget.”
Cuts to tourism and events in the budget include a $286 million cut to Tourism and Major Events funding and a $17 million cut to the Destination Victoria program.
It also included a $393.9 million cut to the Visitor Economy initiatives, including for industry support, regional tourism, events and infrastructure.
