Support for Tourism and Events Sectors

Victorian Upper House calls for support for tourism and events sectors

The Liberal Nationals have thrown their support behind the hard-hit tourism and events sectors in Victoria.

The Victorian Upper House today passed a Liberal Nationals motion to support an urgent inquiry into the sectors, to recommend what critical support is needed - a short, sharp inquiry by the Economy and Infrastructure Committee, to shine a light on the plight of these sectors.

The Committee will be required to inquire into key issues and areas of concern while holding public hearings in Melbourne and regional Victoria.

It will need to report by 30 June 2021 on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the tourism and events sectors, and provide recommendations for State Government support measures, that will restore these sectors to their critical role in the Victorian economy and restore lost jobs.

The motion also calls on the State Government to ensure that additional support is urgently provided to tourism and events industry businesses.

The tourism and events sectors are amongst the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. They need our urgent support, because they’ve been forgotten by Daniel Andrews.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, tourism contributed to 6.5 per cent of the Victorian economy, 142,000 Melbourne and 110,000 regional Victoria direct and indirect jobs, comprising 7.8 per cent of Victoria’s employment. The more than $10 billion annual Victorian events sector is a major sector in its own right and is vital to supporting tourism through central city events, regional events and festivals and business events.

Comments attributable to the Shadow Minister for Tourism, Major Events and Sport, Cindy McLeish:

“Victoria’s tourism and events industries are on their knees.

“Our visitor economy has haemorrhaged up to $2.5 billion per month and is projected to shed 85,300 jobs by September 2021.

“Events and tourism drives visitation into Melbourne and regional areas in the off-peak and shoulder seasons. It has been severely impacted by the COVID-19 restrictions, including the impact of snap border closures on consumer confidence levels.”

Comments attributable to the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, David Davis:

“These sectors – Victorian tourism and events – are burning. We risk catastrophic job losses unless the Andrews Labor Government acts quickly.

“Proper support measures would help restore these sectors. They play a critical role in the Victorian economy.

“Given the prolonged restrictions imposed by Daniel Andrews, the Upper House today recognised these sectors have been hit harder in this state compared to the rest of the nation.”