News
$17 billion events industry sees strategy for 2020
www.etravelblackboard.com: Monday, 3 November 2008
The Business Events Council of Australia (BECA) recently launched a comprehensive study into how Australia's booming business events industry can grow in the lead up to 2020.
Welcomed by the Tourism Minister, the report Titled A National Business Events Strategy for Australia 2020 includes 52 recommendations for both the Government and industry.
Highlighting the industry that generates AU$17 billion for the country, BECA highlights in their report the need for a national collaborative effort to grow the sector, more funding for Tourism Australia's international efforts, less constraints on infrastructure developments, more training and education, as well as a focus on sustainability.
"Our research shows that business events delegates and attendees have a high daily visitor spend, well above the daily spend of the average leisure tourist. So the economic return on any investment is significant, quite apart from the other community benefits generated by hosting major conventions and business meetings," said Geoff Donaghy BECA Chairman.
"However our long term blueprint for the industry also includes a wide range of non-monetary recommendations for Government as well as many pro-active steps that the industry itself needs to undertake."
Martin Ferguson, the Federal Minister for Tourism, has welcomed the release of the report and acknowledges the importance of the events industry.
"The Australian Government acknowledges the value and importance of business events to Australia. It contributes $17.4 billion to the economy annually and generates an estimated 116,000 jobs," comments Mr Ferguson.
"I am pleased to have received this Strategy, which is the culmination of a lot of hard work by the sector to outline their priorities and recommendations.
"The Strategy they have developed will also make an important contribution to the Australian Government's development of a National Long-Term Tourism Strategy, particularly given a number of constraints identified by the business events sector are shared by the wider tourism industry," he adds.
It is estimated that international business events delegates spend an average of AU$554 daily, compared with AU$94 for leisure tourists.
MEDIA RELEASE: 29 October 2008
BUSINESS EVENTS: AUSTRALIA'S UNTAPPED POTENTIAL
The most comprehensive plan that has ever been formulated for the country's $17B business events industry has been presented to the Australian Government.
Industry representatives met with the Federal Minister for Resources, Energy and Tourism, Martin Ferguson, in Canberra this week to hand over the document and discuss major impacts on business events of the worsening global financial crisis.
Titled A National Business Events Strategy for Australia 2020 the document contains 52 recommendations for both the Government and industry addressing Australia's international marketing, infrastructure and aviation constraints, sustainability issues, and training and education needs.
It calls upon the Australian Government to provide more funding, logistical and strategic support and challenges industry to take a more collaborative approach. It also calls for the convening of a Government and industry Strategy Implementation group to oversee delivery of the key recommendations.
The Strategy was prepared by the industry's peak body, the Business Events Council of Australia (BECA) in conjunction with a reference group convened by Minister Ferguson. The group included key tourism organisations TTF Australia (Tourism & Transport Forum), the Australian Hotels Association and the Australian Tourism Export Council, with liaison and input provided by Tourism Australia and the Department of Resources Energy and Tourism.
BECA Chairman Geoff Donaghy said that the industry has continued its call on the Australian Government for a greater investment in marketing funding for Tourism Australia to meet increasing business events global competition and fully address the country's untapped potential.
"Our research shows that business events delegates and attendees have a high daily visitor spend, well above the daily spend of the average leisure tourist. So the economic return on any investment is significant, quite apart from the other community benefits generated by hosting major conventions and business meetings".
"However our long term blueprint for the industry also includes a wide range of non-monetary recommendations for Government as well as many pro-active steps that the industry itself needs to undertake," Mr Donaghy said.
It is anticipated the document will also be a key input to the National Long Term Tourism Strategy which is currently being developed and due for release in 2009.
Attached: Executive Summary, National Business Events Strategy
Further information:
Geoff Donaghy, Chairman, BECA, 0419 169 252
Elizabeth Rich, Executive Director, BECA, 0414 969 140
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