Tasmania’s tourism industry is world-class and recognised as a must-visit global destination, supporting around 43,200 direct and indirect jobs and underpinning around $3.6 billion worth of economic activity around the State.

That’s why a re-elected majority Gutwein Liberal Government will Secure Tasmania's tourism future with a comprehensive $83 million package to maximise its potential and ensure it can continue to thrive.

We have invested significantly in tourism since coming to Government, and we will work in partnership with industry to ensure the economic and social benefits that tourism delivers can continue, in every corner of our State.

Importantly, under a re-elected majority Liberal Government, I will remain as Minister for Tourism, recognising the importance of the industry to our State’s future and the many jobs it supports, especially in our regions.

Significant investments in our plan include:

• Providing a $50 million interest free loan program that will allow our tourism businesses to develop their products so that Tasmania is the most sought after destination in the country as we rebuild from COVID and travel returns to normal;
• Investing up to an additional $6 million per annum to extend Tourism Tasmania’s marketing funding beyond its current 2022 expiry, in recognition of the fact that we need to continue selling our Island state as the best place in the world to visit as we continue to recover from the pandemic;
• Showcasing our maritime heritage by investing $1.25 million to the Wooden Boat Centre to enable it to expand its training and tourism interpretation capacity;
• Providing a further $2.7 million towards the Transformer project at Ida Bay Reserve;
• Recognising our convict history, we will invest $1.25 million to establish a Convict Heritage Hub in the Penitentiary Chapel in Hobart, providing a central point for tourists and locals to learn about Tasmania’s fascinating convict trails and our existing attractions including Port Arthur, Maria Island and Sarah Island;
• Recognising the opportunity for Tasmania to establish a world class tourism rail experience, we will provide $2 million over two years for the Don River Railway to acquire and upgrade necessary infrastructure - allowing them to expand further and establish a world class tourism rail experience;
• Developing a world-class Visitor Information Technology model, with a $1 million investment over two years, with the East Coast and the West Coast pilots;
• Investing $750,000 over three years to build the tourism potential of Tasmania’s Aboriginal Heritage through the ground breaking wukalina walk, operated by palawa Enterprises;
• Waiving registration for electric vehicles purchased by car rental companies and coach operators for two years, supporting our goal to become a carbon neutral destination for visitors; and
• Elevating the attraction of Tasmania as a preferred destination for business events, with a $2.4 million Business Events Attraction Fund.

We will partner with industry to activate the State’s Far North West as a tourism destination, with funding of $2.75 million to get the ball rolling and revitalise the ‘Edge of the World’ experience at Arthur River.

While we will also build the range of options for those visitors that appreciate short walks and nature-based tourism, with a commitment of $500,000 to create a new short walks destination in the Meander Valley - which has been identified by industry, Visit North Tasmania and the local Council as an ideal area.

This comprehensive package builds on the power of work we have done to build the industry since coming to Government in 2014, and we will continue to invest to help them thrive as we recover from COVID and secure Tasmania’s future.

The policy can be found here.