1. QUEENSLAND
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
ELECTIONS
PRIORITIES FOR TOURISM
2016
FEDERAL
ELECTION
#votefortourism
Media Contacts
Daniel Gschwind, Chief Executive, (07) 3236 1445 / 0419 219 795 / Daniel.Gschwind@qtic.com.au
Joanna Atzori, Communications Manager, (07) 3236 1445 / 0403 730 909 / Joanna.Atzori@qtic.com.au
TOURISM PRIORITIES
JOB CREATION OPPORTUNITIES
NO UNFAIR BACKPACKER TAX
PROTECTING OUR NATURAL TOURISM ASSETS
BETTER BUSINESS REGULATION AND VISA PROVISION
DRIVE INVESTMENT FOR SERVICES ECONOMY
PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORTING REGIONAL GROWTH
Tourism is a major job creator, employing 230,000 Queenslanders in a broad range of careers. The
Governmentʼs 2015 Tourism Labour Force report anticipated that the Queensland tourism industry
will require 23,500 new workers by 2020.
Accelerate investment in major infrastructure, including aviation and air route development, the Bruce
Highway, sport, entertainment and convention venues, national park facilities and multimodal transport
systems. Catalytic public investment can stimulate new tourism opportunities and growth.
Investment is needed in digital infrastructure to enhance accessibility and availability of services for
regional communities, industry, governments and visitors. Investment is also needed in industry-led
capacity building programs, recognising entrepreneurship and encouraging future innovation,
workforce, business and product development. Success will depend on a coherent and cross-portfolio
policy approach to the services sector.
Support the development of an industry-led framework for business standards, to drive quality product
and service outcomes. Visa provisions that support Australiaʼs competitiveness and encouraging
visitation. Advance the industry-government partnership through recognition of tourism as one of the
key economic drivers of the economy and its value to the community.
Provide certainty for industry and communities that environmental management and protection policies
will reflect tourism interests, particularly in areas of state and national significance. Long term protection
of our natural assets, like the Great Barrier Reef, need to be funded at all levels of government to
adequately address the scope of environmental and development challenges.
The Queensland tourism industry will continue to fight the proposed removal of the tax-free threshold
and the 32.5% marginal tax rate for Working Holiday Visa visitors, a higher rate than other tax payers
and much higher than our competitor destinations. This will take disposable income from
backpackers who will spend less in regional destinations across Australia, affecting the communities
and small businesses who benefit from them.

2. AGREE THAT TOURISM PRODUCES
INCREASED LOCAL PRIDE72%
QTIC Federal Election Priorities 2016 #votefortourism
Why tourism matters to Queensland
$23b1TOURISM
CONTRIBUTES
DELIVERS 1 IN EVERY 8 DOLLARS TO THE STATEʼS
ECONOMY THROUGH TOURISM SPENDING
OR 7.6% OF
QUEENSLANDʼSGSP
$49m $18.3b $30bDAILY SPEND
IN LOCAL ECONOMY
VISITORS SPEND
PER YEAR
2020 POTENTIAL
9 IN 10 ARE SMALL
BUSINESSES
SUPPORTS 12%OF ALL
Businesses IN THE STATE
EVERY DOLLAR TOURISM EARNS, ADDS AN
ADDITIONAL 87¢TO OTHER PARTS OF THE ECONOMY
1
Estimated contribution of the regionʼs visitors economy to total tourism Gross State Product. Source of all data: Tourism Research Australia IVS and NVS, June 2015; Tourism and Events Queensland,
Tourism Economic Key Facts, September 2015; Deloitte Access Economics, Queensland Tourism Industry Outlook Potential to 2020, August 2012; Tourism Research Australia, State Tourism Satellite
Accounts 2013-2014; Tourism and Events Queensland, Social Indicators 2013. RIS2967
RECOGNISE TOURISM STIMULATES
NEW INFRASTRUCTURE
What do Queenslanders think about tourism?
91% RECOGNISE THE IMPORTANT
ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF TOURISM
SEE THEGREATER CULTURAL
DIVERSITYTOURISMGENERATES92%
68%
Visitor economy
Exports $5.8b2ND LARGEST EXPORT
EARNER FOR QUEENSLAND
ARE HAPPY WITH MORE
TOURISMGROWTH
230,000 Jobs
1 IN 10 QUEENSLANDERS
MORE THAN RESOURCES OR AGRICULTURE
72%
DRIVE INVESTMENT FOR SERVICES
ECONOMY
BETTER BUSINESS REGULATION AND
VISA PROVISIONS
PUBLIC INFRASTUCTURE SUPPORTING
REGIONAL GROWTHJOB CREATION OPPORTUNITIES
PROTECTING OUR NATURAL
TOURISM ASSETS
NO UNFAIR BACKPACKER TAX
2016
FEDERAL
ELECTION
#votefortourism
TOURISM PRIORITIES