Page 5003 - Week 15 - Thursday, 15 December 2005

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Tourism—guest arrivals
(Question No 773)

Mr Smyth asked the Minister for Economic Development and Business, upon notice, on 16 November 2005:

(1) How does the Minister explain and account for a 10% reduction, 15 183 down to 13 656, in the number of available bed spaces in ACT accommodation establishments as reported in the most recent Tourist Accommodation statistics from the Australian Bureau of Statistics;

(2) Is the Minister concerned that guest arrivals in the ACT have increased by only a very small margin from 1999-2000 to 2004-05;

(3) What is the Government doing to increase guest arrivals and bed numbers.

Mr Quinlan: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:

(1) The figures showing a 10% reduction that Mr Smyth has quoted from recent Tourist Accommodation statistics from the Australian Bureau of Statistics for bed spaces in the ACT is for the June quarter 2000 compared to June quarter 2005. A count of bed spaces is not a good indicator, as it is subject to seasonal variations due to hotel refurbishments and different room configurations. A better indicator of industry activity and a more accurate measure is room nights occupied. (See answer to 2).

(2) No, I am not concerned about the numbers that Mr Smyth has quoted for guest arrivals for the period 1999–2000 to 2004–2005 showing an increase of 1%. A better indicator of industry activity as stated above is a comparison of room nights occupied. Using the same period that you have quoted for guest arrivals, statistics indicate that a comparison for the years for room nights occupied for June quarter 2000 (1,112,700) with June quarter 2005 (1,220,300) there is an increase of 10%. This effectively vindicates the Government’s recent marketing activity which I have detailed in answer to your third question.

(3) The ACT Government introduced several programs over the past 24 months to increase awareness and visitation, the more significant of which are detailed below:

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