The Australian government has announced a $9m boost for its tourism industry.

The Australian Government has announced a AUS $9 million (£5 million) boost for its tourism industry, focusing on the way it is promoted in international and domestic markets.

Minister for Tourism, Martin Ferguson AM MP, revealed the news at the Tourism Ministers’ Council in Adelaide recently, calling on Australia’s tourism industry to engage with Tourism Australia to maximise growth in travel following the global recession.

The extra funding is for the 2009/10 financial year – coming at a much-needed time as the global recession continues to harm the industry month after month.

Minister Ferguson said: “The global tourism industry has been through a very difficult period. Australia’s tourism industry is performing far better than many other destinations but we now have an opportunity to capitalise upon increasing confidence in some of our key overseas markets.

“It’s the right time for an injection of funding to support extra marketing activity overseas - as well as in Australia  – and I hope that industry will match the Australian Government’s nine million to turn the boost into eighteen million, or even much more.”

The $9m will be brought forward from Tourism Australia’s 2010/2011 appropriation to promote domestic business travel and to stimulate travel from short-to-medium haul overseas markets (ten hours or less flying time).

Ferguson continued: “This additional funding will provide a boost where it is needed most, such as the business travel sector in Australia, which has been particularly affected by the recent downturn.

“Overseas, the additional funding will target key markets such as China, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, New Zealand and the Middle East, which are important markets for Australia with potential for growth.

“Tourism Australia has attracted good industry support for both the ‘Come Walkabout’ and ‘No Leave, No Life’ campaigns and I hope the industry and state governments again take the opportunity to promote Australia to the world.”

The ‘No Leave, No Life’ programme targets both employers and employees with information to help win the work/life battle and address the workplace issue of annual leave stockpiling – which is one of the hottest workplace issues in the country – one in four Australian, full-time employees have accrued 25 days or more of annual leave. 

For more information about Tourism Australia, click here.