Page 4274 - Week 14 - Thursday, 24 October 1991
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The spring of 1992, Mr Speaker, should be the most successful tourism season that we have ever seen. In a period of about two months a number of events will bring an influx of visitors. The tourism awards and the concurrent Australian Tourism Industry Association conference should attract more than 1,000 tourism industry people. We can be confident that the 1992 Floriade will be as successful as the one just concluded. During the same period Australia's memorial to the Vietnam veterans, on Anzac Parade, will be unveiled, and many thousands of visitors are expected to come to Canberra for that event. The spring racing carnival will also attract a considerable number of visitors and repeat the success that is already being experienced this spring.
Members will have recently seen in the media a series of messages promoting the Canberra region and its strengths. Considerable benefits can be gained for Canberra and the region if we jointly pursue the tourism opportunities offered within our region. I am delighted that the impetus for promotion of the region in this media campaign is coming from the private sector. It is another fine example of a productive partnership between government and industry.
Mr Speaker, another excellent example of cooperation between the Government and the private sector is the Bass Super Ticket. It is a product that has been devised jointly by Canberra Bass and the ACT Tourism Commission. The participating attractions are Cockington Green, the Opal and Gemstone Museum, the Telecom Tower, the National Aquarium, the National Science and Technology Centre and the Australian National Gallery. The Super Ticket will sell for $25, saving adult visitors $10 on the price of admission to those six attractions. Visitors can purchase the Super Ticket from Bass outlets throughout New South Wales, and Canberra Bass is arranging a sales outlet at the visitor information centre on Northbourne Avenue.
This facility will arrange bookings for entertainment and sporting events throughout Canberra and will soon include a "half-tix" service for Canberra. As members will know, this service enables people to buy tickets to major events at half the normal price on the day of the performance. Bass, the Tourism Commission and the six participating attractions will jointly promote the Super Ticket on regional television and radio and in the press. The commission is printing the tickets and the posters. This campaign will be launched in late November, with a view to capturing the school holiday market. An interim ticket, Mr Speaker, is available in the meantime.
These are only some examples of the opportunities for tourism in Canberra. I understand that the commission is now finalising its promotion program for 1991-92, and I look forward to the details of the program when it is finalised.
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