A statement from Victoria Tourism Industry Council Chief Executive, Felicia Mariani:
The Victoria Tourism Industry Council (VTIC) applauds the State and Federal Governments for having discussions regarding Melbourne's Airport Rail Link and for agreeing to collaborate on this critical project.
Melbourne and Victoria has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to get the airport train right.
VTIC maintains the position that for this service to provide the optimum experience for our visitors and local users alike, we must have a dedicated rail line – and the service must have minimal stops to provide the most efficient journey times.
Tourism's economic contribution to Victoria is expected to grow to $36 billion a year by 2026. With more people choosing our state as their holiday destination, we must deliver world-class transport and other offerings to meet the demands of today's global traveller.
After waiting as long as we have to arrive at this agreement, we cannot afford to deviate from the plan. It's vital that we get this right for the long-term future growth of Victoria.
