Australian government delivers 'modest' tourism funding increase

BTN News
Wednesday, 03 April 2019
This year’s Australian Federal budget has delivered a modest increase for tourism, including an increase in funding for money to build new regional tourism icons, a continued freeze of the Passenger Movement Charge (PMC) and additional money for the Export Market Development Grants (EMDG) program.
“The Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) welcomes the Government’s A$50 million investment in developing ‘tourism icons’ in regional Australia,” said managing director Peter Shelley. 
 
“In a fiercely competitive international tourism marketplace, we are disappointed that Tourism Australia hasn't received a commensurate amount of funding to support its vital role in driving demand at a time when our direct regional competitors are heavily investing."
 
Shelley said the industry would welcome a further freeze to the PMC, which will be held at A$60. 
 
“Disappointingly, the government has increased the application fee for all visas, including those accessed by our high yielding backpacker market which will now face an additional A$32 per person charge on applications.

Australian government delivers 'modest' tourism funding increase

BTN News
Wednesday, 03 April 2019
This year’s Australian Federal budget has delivered a modest increase for tourism, including an increase in funding for money to build new regional tourism icons, a continued freeze of the Passenger Movement Charge (PMC) and additional money for the Export Market Development Grants (EMDG) program.
“The Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) welcomes the Government’s A$50 million investment in developing ‘tourism icons’ in regional Australia,” said managing director Peter Shelley. 
 
“In a fiercely competitive international tourism marketplace, we are disappointed that Tourism Australia hasn't received a commensurate amount of funding to support its vital role in driving demand at a time when our direct regional competitors are heavily investing."
 
Shelley said the industry would welcome a further freeze to the PMC, which will be held at A$60. 
 
“Disappointingly, the government has increased the application fee for all visas, including those accessed by our high yielding backpacker market which will now face an additional A$32 per person charge on applications.