Labor's Visit Victoria 2030 Strategy released today was a missed opportunity for a long-term vision to secure jobs, investment and regional growth across the state.
New South Wales has adopted a Tourism 2035 plan, and Queensland is setting its sights even further with a Tourism 2045 framework focused on long-term sustainability and international competitiveness.
By contrast, Victoria's plan stops at 2030, just five years away, and sets only a modest target of $53.4 billion, representing growth below global tourism forecasts and well behind interstate ambitions.
Victoria's tourism industry has struggled to recover from the Covid lockdowns, with Victoria recording a decline of 23,330 visitors or 11.55% per cent, compared to pre-pandemic levels.
The most recent tourism data from the ABS reported Victoria was the second-worst performing jurisdiction in the country for the month of July, with the 12-month growth rate of visitor arrivals 26.52 percentage points behind Tasmania.
Labor's Holiday and Tourism Tax and crime crisis has further undermined Victoria as a tourist destination.
Shadow Minister for Tourism, Sport, Events and Hospitality Sam Groth MP said: "While other states are planning for 2035 and even 2045, Victoria's Labor Government is only planning for tomorrow.
"This strategy is little more than a glossy marketing brochure full of slogans and self-promotion, but light on real economic planning, infrastructure investment, or solutions for the workforce shortages crippling our tourism sector.
"The document admits the success of the industry depends on aviation access, workforce capability and infrastructure but provides no plan to deliver any of them, meanwhile Labor has prioritised the Suburban Rail Loop over airport rail and is considering charging Victorians to visit their own natural wonders.
"The Liberals and Nationals will scrap Labor's Holiday and Tourism Tax and we will be tougher and smarter on crime because the current crime crisis is scaring off visitors."
