Joint Media release
Minister for Trade, Mark Vaile
Minister for Small Business and Tourism, Joe Hockey
17 March 2004
Austrade and ATC Agree on Integrated Tourism Plan
A whole of government approach to tourism outlined in the Tourism White Paper has been agreed to by the Australian Tourist Commission(ATC) and Austrade that sets out departmental roles and a program to maximise our tourism effort worldwide.
The Minister for Trade, Mark Vaile and the Minister for Small Business and Tourism, Joe Hockey, said the strong relationship between Australia's international tourism promoter, the ATC, and our export facilitation agency, Austrade, enabled wider promotion of Australia as a quality destination and a provider of leading-edge tourism expertise, goods and services.
"From a tourism perspective, the relationship between the two agencies provides greater reach into markets that are not currently a focus for the ATC through Austrade's overseas network of 108 offices in 57 countries," the Ministers said.
"The two bodies signed a Memorandum of Understanding in November 2002 to highlight that both agencies would work together. Already, this has resulted in the agencies cooperating on a number of projects, including the recent Australia Week in Los Angeles and Celebrate Australia in Singapore," Mr Vaile and Mr Hockey pointed out.
"The link up demonstrates the Government's commitment to promote tourism more widely, maximise the benefits of tourism for Australia and provide international and Australian tourism operators with a broader range of business development opportunities," they said.
"The operating framework, signed by Austrade Managing Director, Peter O'Byrne and ATC Managing Director, Ken Boundy provides both agencies with a clearer definition of how to work together to achieve greater alignment and efficiency in promotion of Australia's tourism capability as both a quality tourist destination and a provider of leading-edge tourism expertise, goods and services."
The operating framework guidelines seek coordinated action by the agencies to define the desired outcomes of the Memorandum, clarify each agency's role and responsibilities, and outline a co-operation agreement for work in Australia and overseas.
Media contacts: Matthew Doman (Mr Vaile) 02 6277 7420, Bob Lawrence (Mr Hockey) 02 6277 7450