Red Tape Strangling Tourism Industry
A survey of the Australian tourism industry found a critical issue for almost a half of respondents was the need to modify government regulation, to facilitate investment and development.
Aside from funding for marketing and promotions, this was the most pressing concern for the tourism and events industry. “This issue is really cutting into industry’s capacity to bounce back,” said Tony Charters, convenor of the upcoming national Tourism and Event Excellence conference in Melbourne next month.
“It has become a flashpoint for the industry. The Roy Morgan Research survey shows a significant increase in reaction to this issue since we surveyed industry last year. Australian tourism is under extreme pressure with a drop in domestic visitors, flat inbound tourism and a swathe of other economic and market factors conspiring to make business conditions particularly bleak at the moment.
“Government has a pivotal role to play in tourism and events but it also needs to recognise that red tape is a noose around the neck of the industry. Our international competitors don’t take seven years to gain government approval to build. In the time it takes for Australian developers to gain approvals and turn the first sod, our competitors are several projects down the line. Government must reduce the barriers in the highly competitive market Australia is operating within,” said Mr Charters.
Additionally issues such as the carbon tax and the increasing tension between mining development and tourism assets in pristine environments are yet to be fully appreciated.
These issues and emerging opportunities to regain profitability will be canvassed at the national conference at Melbourne’s MCG, 5 – 7 September.
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