222,000 Queenslanders rely on tourism
Posted by editor (editor) on Nov 19 2009
2009 >>

222,000 Queenslanders rely on tourism for their living, new data has revealed.

Tourism Minister Peter Lawlor said the Tourism Satellite Accounts for 2007-08 showed that 122,000 Queenslanders were directly employed in tourism with a further 100,000 indirectly employed.

This comprised a total 10.3 percent of the Queensland workforce and was 3,700 more tourism-related jobs than in 2006-07.

“A total of 222,000 Queenslanders either work directly in tourism, or in some part owe their livelihoods to the tourism industry, many of these in regional areas,” Mr Lawlor said.

“Whether it’s a tour guide or resort receptionist in Cairns, a learn-to-surf instructor on the Gold Coast, or the owner of the local café in Winton, tourism is the lifeblood of Queensland, particularly for many regional economies.

“Tourism is also a very human resource-intensive area and nothing will ever replace the friendly smile and knowledge of a local during a visitors holiday.”

Mr Lawlor said the Tourism Satellite Accounts, which were released today by the Sustainable Tourism Cooperative Research Centre (STCRC) also revealed that in 2007-08 tourism directly contributed $9.1 billion to the state’s economy, up 4.7 percent on 2006-07, and higher than the national average of 4.4 percent.

Tourism also indirectly contributed an additional $6.4 billion to the economy.

“The tourist dollar doesn’t just go into the pockets of those who work in a tourism business such as an accommodation provider or tour company,” Mr Lawlor said.

“The service station that sells petrol, a can of drink and a chocolate bar also derives part of its income from tourists, as does the farmer who grows fresh produce, the truck driver who delivers that produce to a restaurant that a tourist dines at, and the restaurant waitstaff who serve the tourist.”

Mr Lawlor said while the data was for the 2007-08 year and hadn’t taken into account the possible effects of the global economic downturn on Queensland’s tourism industry during the 2008-09 financial year, the long-term trend for the industry was positive.

“Over the past five years tourism has continued to increase its value to the state’s economy and more Queenslanders have continued to enter the tourism workforce,” he said.

“The data for the most recent financial year is not yet available and while it is true that 2008-09 has been tough for many in the industry, there are strong indicators that global confidence in travel is starting to return.”

Mr Lawlor said the most recent Overseas Arrivals and Departures figures for the year ended September 2009 indicated that some of Queensland’s strongest international markets – the US and Continental Europe, were beginning to show positive growth.

Domestically, anecdotal reports indicated that many destinations had also received strong bookings over the recent September/October school holiday period and there were good indicators for a buoyant Christmas period.

“There is no denying that many of our tourism operators have had a tough 12 months but the tourism industry has weathered tough times before and come out stronger at the other end,” he said.

“The outlook is for a more positive 2010 and tourism will continue to be one of the state’s key employers and economic contributors.

“The State Government and Tourism Queensland are committed to protecting the jobs of the 222,000 Queenslanders who owe their living to tourism and will continue to work with industry on a range of initiatives to encourage more visitors to come to Queensland and spend more of their travel dollar.”

Last changed: Nov 19 2009 at 10:05 AM