Minister Barr: Government investment brings visitors to CBR
- Written by ACT Government
Released 02/07/2015
A packed calendar of summer events has contributed to a 3.2 per cent increase in domestic overnight visitors coming to Canberra for the year ending March 2015.
The visitors stayed longer (3.2 days) and spent more (up 5.7 per cent to $1.14 billion) according to the Tourism Research Australia’s National Visitor Survey (NVS). The ACT has endured a difficult period over the past few years, with job losses at the APS level impacting on economic activity and population growth. However, the Territory is now turning the corner – and these results are evidence of how the Government’s investment to stimulate the ACT’s economy has boosted the tourism sector- supporting job growth.
It has been crucial for the Government to assist the diversification of Canberra’s job market in the wake of the Commonwealth job losses. Supporting the tertiary education sector, removing red tape for small businesses and boosting the tourism sector by bringing major events to the capital has helped the ACT navigate the tough climate we have been facing. This has saved thousands of jobs and prevented the ACT from falling into a recession.
The ACT welcomed 2.04 million overnight visitors for the year ending March 2015, up 3.2 per cent from the previous year. The visiting friends and relatives (VFR) sector remains the ACT’s largest, with a 38 per cent share of the visitor market closely followed by the holiday sector (30 per cent) and the business sector (25 per cent).
The March quarter took in a number of big events that the ACT Government invested in including the AFC Asia Cup, ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, James Turrell: a retrospective as well as Enlighten which incorporated the inaugural Night Noodle Markets.
- Statement ends -
Section: Andrew Barr, MLA | Media Releases
