The tourist industry is not figuring highly in the campaign run-up to the nation’s federal elections on 21 August.

Any mention of tourism by the incumbent government has consisted of federal tourism minister Martin Ferguson hyping up what his department has done in the past, well away from the ALP’s focus on “Let’s move Australia forward” ideology.

It is understood the LNP is about to make some announcements on tourism policy but, to date, it has been noticeably quiet in this regard. Shadow tourism minister Steve Ciobo did, however, react quite vehemently when he was ‘unceremoniously uninvited’ from last week’s Gold Coast Tourism lunch at the last moment. Mr Ferguson said he did not think it was ‘appropriate’ for his rival to be at his speeches during an election campaign.



Despite Mr Ferguson's best efforts to deflect attention from the future promises so glaringly missing from his address on the Gold Coast, many that attended were left underwhelmed at the Gillard government's lack of direction on saving the industry. Mr Ferguson made two minor policy announcements - additional funding for a tourism grants program for grassroots operators and an extra $6 million over four years to develop the long-term tourism strategy.

At the same time, he suggested that the Gold Coast should introduce a bed tax if it wanted more promotional dollars.

Certainly there appears there will be no earth-shattering new tourism policies to come in the remaining weeks of the campaign.

However a spokesman for Mr Ciobo told Accomnews that the Gold Coast MP would reveal a tourism policy in coming weeks aimed at helping the tourism industry get back on its feet. [See Coalition Article]

Tourism and Transport Forum managing director Christopher Brown has urged both sides of politics to give the industry more funding in the wake of falls in tourism activity and travel expectations.

"Industry is putting its money where its mouth is and backing Tourism Australia's 'There's Nothing Like Australia' campaign but TA’s funding has declined in real terms in recent years," Mr Brown said, despite Mr Ferguson’s spin suggesting otherwise.



He said the government had reinvigorated Tourism Australia with a series of new appointments, including Andrew McEvoy as managing director and former Qantas chief executive Geoff Dixon as chairman.

"Now it's essential that the new leadership of Tourism Australia is backed by an appropriate level of financial support," Mr Brown said.

He said there was no point getting industry heavyweights on board if they were expected to do the job with one hand tied behind their backs.

One policy direction already announced by both parties has got the industry really worried: plans to cut immigration numbers.

Both prime minister Julia Gillard and opposition leader Tony Abbott have both said they would make cuts to immigration, which currently takes in 270,000 people a year. It seems both are thinking in terms of 150,00 to 170,000 as being adequate.

But the Australian Tourism Export Council has cautioned both sides of politics to consider the economic consequences, especially if international student visa numbers are restricted.

ATEC managing director Matt Hingerty said more than 80% of all international students attract at least one other overseas visitor to Australia during their stay.

Mr Hingerty said the international education sector was a vital component of Australia's $26 billion inbound tourism sector.

There is a fair chance that should the LNP make their expected tourism policy announcement shortly, the ALP will be forced to follow.

One of the key questions that need to be answered (and Accomnews has put this question to both the Ferguson and Ciobo camps) is will the tourism ministry remain a cabinet post. Mr Ferguson’s tourism role is a cabinet position but is lumped with resources and energy and it is the mining sector that gets by far the bulk of his attention.

So far, despite Mr Ferguson’s continuing rhetoric in his speeches, the delivery by the present government has been mediocre to say the least. Many promises have not been fulfilled; one of which (the treating of transTasman travel as domestic) would see a surge in tourist traffic between Australia and New Zealand. That promise is supposed to be fulfilled before Christmas and presumably, if the incumbent government is returned to power, it will be kept.

Mr Ferguson is a past master at delivering speeches that pat himself (and his government) on the back for achievements that, for many, are pure spin or accomplished with sleight of hand. He needs to come up with a concrete policy that will lift his department’s game.

The industry will be watching carefully the next four weeks of politicking with intense interest. The outcome could weigh very heavily on the industry’s future performance.