NEW CENTURY AND NEW WORLD OF TOURISM AT ATE 2000

Australia’s single largest annual export event would showcase the country’s leading tourism product to the world’s top tourism buyers in Sydney this week, Australian Tourist Commission (ATC) Chairman Mr Nick Evers said today.

Speaking at the opening of the Australian Tourism Exchange, the ATC’s flagship international trade show, Mr Evers said 2000 was a watershed year for Australia’s biggest export industry.

“This year is the beginning of a new century for our industry and it also represents the beginning of a new world in the tourism industry,” he said. “New developments in technology, aviation and shifts in global markets are driving some of the biggest changes in our industry’s history. Australia will be at the forefront of that change.”

Mr Evers said Australia would welcome a record number of international tourists this year with arrivals likely to approach five million.

A total of 4.5 million international visitors came to Australia in 1999. According to latest data arrivals in March this year totalled 412,000, a six per cent increase on March 1999.

“But we’re looking beyond 2000 to the years following when the massive impact of the Sydney 2000 Games will become evident in even stronger growth, particularly from our major markets in Europe the Americas and Asia,” he said.

“But while the Games are already driving unprecedented exposure for Australia the tourism industry and our trade partners worldwide have a significant job ahead to convert that exposure into bookings.

“The ATC’s strategic plan for the coming years focuses on this issue. This welcome challenge comes at a time when other fundamental changes are occurring within the industry and we must harness the benefits of these changes, particularly technological ones, to secure our future.”

ATE Facts:

· 1580 delegates from 646 Australian tourism operators are registered for ATE

· 681 delegates from 544 international tourism buyer companies will also attend

· Buyers at this year’s event represent 46 countries

· 55 international tourism media will attend ATE for a four day media programme

· The ATC’s first annual trade fair was held in 1979

The current ATE format was introduced in 1985