Important announcement

Dear Industry Colleagues

I write to advise that Tourism Tasmania has today taken the decision to postpone its forthcoming International Tourism Symposium until early March 2009.

A number of important and very relevant considerations have combined to influence this decision.  The unprecedented state of the global economy and the impact it is having on our industry simply cannot be ignored. 

Tourism Tasmania recognises it has a responsibility to take the lead in understanding and reacting to the effects this crisis may have on Tasmania, both domestically and globally.  We have determined that the timing of the International Tourism Symposium does not allow us the time to properly consider the implications that the current situation will undoubtedly have on our international operations.

Tasmania’s peak industry bodies also share our concern.  Next week, the Tourism Industry Council of Tasmania is holding an urgent industry forum to discuss the implications, threats and opportunities for the Tasmanian tourism industry arising from this crisis.

Appropriately, Tourism Tasmania’s Board will meet later this month for a strategy planning day to plot the Authority’s way forward for the next 12-36 months.

Tourism Tasmania will also consult with its Regional Managers from international markets, assessing what is occurring in the international marketplace.

As an outcome from these meetings, Tourism Tasmania will compile another edition of our Lighthouse Report which will address the issues we are confronting and lay the framework for the way forward.

Tourism Tasmania believes an International Tourism Symposium that delivers learnings from these discussions will best serve the industry into the future and help us to chart a much more stable course over the next couple of years.

We appreciate that it is also the busy time of year and as such, moving the Symposium forward to March will allow you to place your focus on your business, as is appropriate; and further takes into account the ability to present plans for the Australian Tourism Exchange which will be held in Melbourne in May 2009.

We trust that you will understand the motivations behind this rescheduling, and appreciate that the delay will allow us to present a Symposium which best reflects the current state of the international marketplace - that is worth attending, and worth waiting for!

Please do not hesitate to contact me or Chris Griffin, Group Manager Destination Marketing on 6230 8119 if you have any further questions or feedback.

Yours Sincerely,

Felicia Mariani
CEO, Tourism Tasmania