Tasmanian tourism operators are gaining the skills and confidence they need to get international travel trade ready, through the Tasmanian Government's Trade Connect Program.
Thirteen Tasmanian businesses are currently participating in the Australian Tourism Export Council's (ATEC) Tourism Trade Ready Program, with the fully subsidised scholarships helping operators understand how to work with the international travel distribution system and reach customers beyond the domestic market.
Minister for Tourism, Hospitality and Events, Roger Jaensch, said the program was helping build a strong pipeline of Tasmanian tourism businesses ready to take their products to the world.
"Being export ready is about giving our tourism operators the knowledge, skills and confidence to build relationships with international travel buyers and grow their businesses," Minister Jaensch said.
"This could be through ATEC Meeting Place, which will be hosted in Hobart for the first time this October, Tourism Australia's international Marketplace events, or Australia's largest international travel trade event, the Australian Tourism Exchange in 2027.
"Through our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania's Future, we are backing our tourism industry to grow, creating more opportunities for Tasmanian businesses to connect with international markets and attract more visitors to our State."
The Tourism Trade Ready Program scholarships can also be used to support operators undertaking ATEC's market-specific training, including India Ready and China Ready, allowing businesses to focus on the international markets most relevant to their products.
Operators who complete the Tourism Trade Ready Program and go on to attend Australian Tourism Exchange can also access a 50 per cent reimbursement towards their registration fee.
