Tasmania's flailing minority Liberal government has completely stuffed up the introdution of its much-vaunted new Spirit of Tasmania ferries, so is desperate to create some positive energy around tourism.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff, who is so short of talent in his team that he has to also take on the role of Tourism Minister, this week announced a "$5 million Aviation Attraction Fund".
Rockliff claims this drop in the ocean will "increase domestic flights to and from Tasmania and enhance the potential for new international routes for locals and visitors alike".
He added the fund would "help to secure new routes from domestic and international destinations or extend existing seasonal services".
Given that Hobart Airport is currently a building site - as has been the case for much of the past decade - and does not have adequate bagging handling services and requires passengers to walk across the tarmac to their planes in mid-winter, I think he is being optimistic.
“This investment will drive visitation - boosting our local economy, supporting jobs and creating more opportunities for Tasmanians,” Rockliff said. He rarely makes any statement with mentioning the word "jobs" several times.
“For Tasmanians, it will mean more choices when they travel interstate or overseas, and support for our trade and export markets."
Quite what this taxpayer-funded fund will actually do is a little bit hazy. And the press release did not say who will run it, oversee it, or what its annual budget will be. Details!
But Hobart Airport CEO Norris Carter is firmly on board,. saying the Aviation Attraction Fund would help to unlock huge benefits for Tasmania.
“Aviation is a competitive business, and these funds will give Tasmania a competitive edge to secure new and extra domestic and international flights,” Carter said.
“Importantly, this fund will go a long way to helping to secure direct international flights to Asia, once we complete our $130 million runway upgrade in the middle of this year.”
Launceston Airport CEO Shane O’Hare also welcomed the announcement.
"Today's announcement will ensure Launceston Airport can competitively engage with domestic airlines to attract more vital connections for our passengers in what is a very competitive domestic market,” O’Hare said.
He believes the fund is "vital for Tasmania to compete with other states to attract aviation investment.”
The Aviation Attraction Fund will support "both Tasmania’s 2030 Visitor Economy Strategy and the Tasmanian Trade Strategy 2019-2025".
If only we knew the nitty gritty. Will it be spent on advertising, or inducements? Who knows?
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