Published on : Friday, May 23, 2014
Australians are overwhelmingly supportive of major events and back governments spending money to attract and secure major events, a new report from peak national industry body Tourism & Transport Forum (TTF) has found.
The report, Backing Major Events: Australian support for major events and why governments should get behind them, is being launched today at TTF’S Outlook Tourism Industry and Policy Conference at the Four Seasons Sydney. It includes research conducted by Repucom about the attitudes of Australians to and government support for major events.
TTF Chief Executive Ken Morrison said the report’s findings underline the importance of major events to the visitor economy.
“Backing Major Events shows that Australians understand the economic benefit of major events and 66 are happy for governments to spend money on them,” said Mr Morrison.
“The Repucom research found that 89 per cent of Australians think it is important for their state or territory to host major events and that 85 per cent think it is important for government to be involved in attracting and securing major events.
“Fully 66 per cent support the use of taxpayer funds to secure major events, which should give governments the confidence to continue to fund major events’ bids and development.
“Despite Australians’ love of sport, the research showed that music events are rated the most popular major events ahead of sport events and food and wine events.
“Importantly, major events create demand, driving travel and expenditure by visitors, as well as adding to the reputation and brand of a destination and giving residents and visitors a positive impression.
“Almost 900,000 international visitors to Australia attended a cultural or sporting event in 2012-13, while almost 100,000 came to Australia specifically for a major event.
“On the domestic front, events were the main purpose of travel for 5.4 million domestic overnight trips.
“In addition, a further 5.3 million domestic overnight trips involved attending a cultural or sporting event and these visitors stay 20 per cent longer and spend 30 per cent more than the average domestic overnight visitor.
“Backing Major Events makes the case for governments to increase their support for events as drivers of visitation that will generate activity in the visitor economy and help tourism achieve its potential as an economic development strategy for Australia.”
Source:- TTF
Tags: TTF
|
||
   
|
||
