The tourism and events industry is a major source of Victorian business opportunities, jobs and export revenue. Its importance to our State increases every year.
In 2005 I undertook a strategic review with the aim of improving the coherency and effectiveness of government support for the sector over the next ten years, and to ensure that support is clearly aligned to the Government's overall economic, social and environmental objectives.
The Victorian Government will do all it can to help the Industry improve and expand further.
Tourism in Victoria grew from a $7.3 billion industry in 1998 to $10.9 billion in 2004. Our aim is to increase this to at least $18 billion and to create at least 66,000 new jobs by 2016.
We have made a record investment of nearly $350 million to date, and this Strategy outlines future directions across 14 areas of policy to help the Industry meet the many potential challenges it will face over the next decade.
These directions have been developed in close consultation with tourism operators and represent an agreed strategy to raise Industry standards, increase tourist numbers and create more jobs across the whole State.
Importantly, it places the tourism and events industry at the heart of Victorian Government decision making processes. The Victorian Government takes tourism and events seriously and we want to improve the Industry's access to government at all levels.
I look forward to working closely with the tourism and events industry to implement this Strategy.
John Pandazopoulos MP
Minister for Tourism
