13 December 2019

Tasmania’s regions are reaping enormous economic gains from the state’s growing tourism sector according to new figures.

The new Regional Tourism Satellite Accounts data for 2017-18 shows that more Tasmanians are working in tourism and locals are benefitting from the increasing spend of visitors.

We know that across the country around 44 cents of every tourism dollar is spent in our regions, on accommodation, food, and attractions or even at the local service station – each and every transaction supports our communities and local jobs.

This was confirmed in the data, which shows that in the regions of Hobart and the South more than 17,000 workers were employed both directly and indirectly by tourism, up 6.7 per cent on the previous year.

In the North West and on the West Coast more than 6,600 people are employed because of tourism, and in Launceston it’s around 7,500.

Tasmania’s East Coast has 2,500 workers in the tourism industry, increasing 17 per cent on the previous year.  This leads the country with more of its workforce employed because of tourism than any other region, accounting for an incredible 49 per cent, or almost one in two workers..

Tourism’s economic contribution is also increasing. In Hobart and the South tourism’s total Gross Value Added (GVA) was up 8.6 per cent to $1.2 billion, on the East Coast it was up 19.2 per cent to $132 million, in the North West it was up 22.4 per cent to $378 million, the West Coast was $52 million up 12.0 per cent and Launceston and the North recorded $467 million, a small drop of 0.3 per cent, caused by a fall in the indirect or flow-on effects of tourism.

These figures highlight the undeniable importance of tourism to our regions. Tourism improves the lives of Tasmanians. A strong tourism industry means more jobs, greater investment and better infrastructure.

It also has the often immeasurable ability to transform and diversify our regional communities, bringing enormous social, environmental and cultural gains. This is why we are committed to ensuring every region shares in the benefits and will make regional tourism the centrepiece of our Tourism 2030 Plan.

The full Regional Tourism Satellite Accounts, 2017-18 report is available HERE