Will Hodgman

This week we saw the state’s ailing economy go into recession – now is appears the tourism industry has gone down the same path, with two successive quarters of negative growth.

The Tourism Tasmania figures released yesterday showed that in the 12 months to September, 51,000 fewer people visited the state than the same period last year, with people also choosing to spend less time and money in the state.

This 6 per cent decline follows a 2 per cent decline in the June quarter.

This alarming slump in tourism activity must be sending loud alarm bells to the Green-Labor Government that urgent action is now critical.

As I have often said, my vision for Tasmania is to grow our cornerstone industries, and I am willing to work with the Minister and the recently developed 'access working group' to develop strategies that will strongly support and grow tourism.

The Liberals have already announced a plan to reboot our tourism industry, including by investing $3.8 million in a new Events and Economic Stimulus program, and making Tourism Tasmania more effective by separating it from the bureaucracy.

Access to the state is currently a critical challenge that the Government can not afford to fail.

I look forward to hearing the Minister’s response to my offer to work with the access working group.