New data released today shows the Palaszczuk Government has created more than 30,000 tourism jobs since forming government in 2015 – an increase of 15.5 per cent – to 236,000 jobs state-wide.
Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones said Tourism Research Australia's 2017-2018 State Tourism Satellite Accounts data reinforced the importance of tourism to Queensland's economy.
"By investing in our tourism industry, we can support jobs growth throughout Queensland," she said.
"Today's data shows our strategy to grow our tourism industry and create jobs is working.
"These figures highlight tourism as a major pillar of Queensland's economy, which is now worth more than $27 billion – an increase of almost twenty per cent since we formed government in 2015."
Queensland data for 2017-18 also exceeds the annual growth rate of the state's major competitors - New South Wales and Victoria - for jobs and Gross State Product, an increase of 6.2 per cent and 7.2 per cent respectively.
"The 2017-18 results include the economic benefit of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games. We'll continue to see that benefit in years to come," she said.
"We've also doubled the value of our events calendar since forming government – now worth $800 million to our economy."
On top of the government's Australian-first tourism infrastructure fund, Ms Jones said through Tourism and Events Queensland, the State Government had boosted funding for marketing campaigns aimed at catching the world's attention.
"We're investing more in tourism than any government in Queensland's history. That investment is paying off in jobs for Queenslanders," she said.
"We've announced millions of dollars' worth of new tourism attractions. We've also launched a series of campaigns including the world's first rideshare submarine – scUber – showcasing the beauty of the Great Barrier Reef in a new and different way," she said.
"We've put the global spotlight on Queensland's world-class food offering through our recently launched Taste the State content series. And for the first time ever Masterchef filmed a week's worth of shows in Queensland, which will now be aired in more than 120 countries.
"Tourism in Queensland now employs a larger share of people than any other state - one in ten Queenslanders. That's more people than the mining and agriculture, forestry and fishing industries combined.
"We're working towards further growth in the industry, creating more jobs and boosting the state's economy through our iconic tourism experiences."
