Page 1390 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 28 March 2012
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Whilst there are a number of events in the centenary year that are still to be revealed, there are many that have been announced and that will undoubtedly draw great interest in our centenary year—the women’s Australian golf open and the British Lions tour in the sporting field and the wide variety of cultural programs and events that have been announced. It is also worth observing that the centenary provides the opportunity to take some of our existing tourism events to a new level. I refer, of course, to Floriade, the Canberra Festival, Enlighten. There are a number of opportunities to use the centenary year to further build on the strengths of those events and to bring in an even larger audience for those events.
Undoubtedly, 2013 presents a fantastic opportunity to further leverage our business tourism opportunities. In speaking to Robyn Hendry at the Brodburger opening the other night, she informed me of a very strong program for 2013 and also a significant opportunity as we approach the few years after that with news of the redevelopment of the Sydney convention centre and that facility being offline potentially for three to four years, depending, of course, on the decisions of the New South Wales government. That will present some opportunities but also some challenges for the ACT.
The ACT government is providing an additional $1 million to the Canberra Convention Bureau to continue its great work in positioning Canberra as an innovative and influential business events destination. I think it is worth noting that several weeks ago the National Convention Centre was awarded gold in the category of meetings and business tourism at the national tourism awards. I know those opposite were not particularly keen to hear that in question time. I am not sure whether they have put on the public record their congratulations to Cindy Young and the team at the National Convention Centre. It was a fantastic result and good to see a Canberra business achieving so well in the national tourism awards.
It is worth noting that our centre beat the Melbourne Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Shoal Bay Resort and Spa in New South Wales which took silver and bronze respectively in that category. That the National Convention Centre received this prestigious award is a reflection of the team’s hard work and dedication in a very successful year. They hosted 375 events which contributed very strongly to the territory’s economy. The ACT government will continue to work with the Convention Bureau and the Convention Centre, and indeed with the other organisations that participate in this area of the economy, to deliver another bumper year for business events in 2013.
As previous speakers have alluded, I announced the establishment of a task force to coordinate Canberra’s efforts to secure direct international flights to and from the Canberra Airport. This task force will comprise members drawn from the business and tourism sectors to work with the airport, Australian Capital Tourism and the Economic Development Directorate in a united “team Canberra” approach. Undoubtedly, the investment at Canberra Airport presents the opportunity for regular international flights for the ACT. That is something that will be of great benefit to local businesses, tourism and hospitality operators and to the broader territory economy. Indeed, the time now is to come together to pitch to airlines to start direct international flights to Canberra.
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