Tasmanian Access Strategy 2040 launched: what it means for tourism
Launceston Airport
Rob Burnett
Access is the foundation of our visitor economy
The Tasmanian Government has launched the Tasmanian Access Strategy 2040, a whole of government plan for growing and strengthening the air and sea connections Tasmania depends on. Tourism Tasmania is proud to be a partner and contributor to this strategy, which sets the direction for access to our island state to 2040.
Tasmania’s access system shapes cost of living, business competitiveness, regional employment, health, education and the liveability of communities right across the state, and for the tourism industry, strong access is the foundation of a strong visitor economy.
For our industry, this matters. Every visitor who comes to Tasmania arrives by air or sea. Air travel accounts for around 92 per cent of passenger movements, making the frequency, affordability and reliability of air services central to how the visitor economy performs.
The Spirit of Tasmania plays a complementary and important role, with around 91 per cent of sea visitors bringing their own vehicle, staying longer and exploring more of the state's regions. Cruise visitation adds further economic benefit to hospitality and tourism businesses in and around Tasmania's port communities.
With tourism generating $4.5 billion for the Tasmanian economy in 2023-24 and supporting one in six Tasmanian jobs, strong access is not just an enabler of growth, it is a condition of it.
What the Strategy means for tourism
The Strategy is built around four pillars: the benefit for Tasmanians, a sustainable, affordable and reliable air and sea network, visitor destination appeal, and infrastructure and services. Tourism is woven through all of them. Below are the priorities most relevant to our industry.
Growing the air network
The Strategy commits to growing frequency and reliability on key routes between Hobart, Launceston and mainland capital cities - the backbone of our visitor access. It also targets direct seasonal air services from a key Asian hub, year round direct services to New Zealand building on the existing seasonal route, and new and extended domestic routes to reduce seasonality and improve connectivity.
Supporting this, Hobart Airport's $200 million terminal expansion will double the terminal's size and increase annual passenger capacity to 3.5 million by 2030, with a masterplan pathway to 5.5 million passengers by 2042. The recently completed $130 million runway upgrade means wide body aircraft can now land at Hobart for the first time, making direct long haul international routes viable and opening up new air freight pathways for Tasmanian exporters. At Launceston Airport, a $100 million redevelopment program is transforming Tasmania's northern gateway, with a masterplan for approximately 2 million passengers by 2044.
Port Arthur Historic Site, Turrakana / Tasman Peninsula
Port Arthur Historic Site
Spirit of Tasmania
The two new Spirit of Tasmania vessels bring a significant increase in capacity to Bass Strait, with greater over height vehicle capacity to support the caravan and motorhome market. The Strategy commits to maximising the tourism opportunity this creates, through stronger alignment with destination marketing, scheduling and the broader goals of the 2030 Visitor Economy Strategy.
Cruise
The Strategy includes a priority focus on growing the value of cruise ship visitation to Tasmanian ports, aligned with research into the economic, social and environmental impacts of cruise shipping for Tasmania. Attracting high value international cruise ships and supporting the hospitality and tourism businesses that benefit from port calls are both identified as priorities.
Destination appeal and international markets
The Strategy recognises that maintaining strong air connectivity requires strong demand signals. Growing year round visitation through aligned domestic and international destination marketing, major events, sport and business events are all identified as priorities. This is work that sits at the heart of what Tourism Tasmania does every day. Increasing demand driving activity in international visitor markets, particularly those aligned with current and prospective international air services, is a shared priority across government and industry.
Accessibility
The Strategy also includes a commitment to supporting a welcoming and accessible experience across the access network for both visitors and Tasmanians, an important consideration as we continue to grow Tasmania as an inclusive destination.
A partnership approach
This is not a Tourism Tasmania strategy, but Tourism Tasmania is a proud partner in it. The Strategy is led by the Tasmanian Government and delivered through government and access partners
Strong access benefits all Tasmanians. For our industry, it is the starting point for everything else.