JOINT MEDIA RELEASE

20 June 1999 

The Federal Government has announced a $9.4 million training initiative to help boost employment in the Tasmanian tourism industry.

Minister for Education, Training and Youth Affairs, Dr David Kemp, says the Tasmanian Environment Tourism Employment and Training Initiative will educate and train 300 people over the next four years for employment in the tourism and hospitality sector.

"This will help Tasmanian tourism reach its goal to increase employment from around 19,000 at present to 26,000 tourism jobs by the year 2007," Dr Kemp said.

Minister for Environment and Heritage, Senator Robert Hill, said the training initiative would be to be funded through the sale of the second (16 per cent) tranche of Telstra and would concentrate on developing Tasmania’s eco-tourism industry.

"Tasmania’s unique wilderness and heritage attractions are what sets it apart from other mainland states, making it a significant international destination," Senator Hill said.

"This program will help cement Tasmania’s reputation, with tourism operators and their staff becoming more skilled in the management of the natural resource base of the industry."

Dr Kemp said the funding would allow the Drysdale Institute of Technology Tasmania to increase student numbers in the courses it has recently developed in cultural tourism and tour guiding.

"This training scheme is unique in that it has been designed to combine formal training with community service and workplace experience. It aims to develop a co-operative effort among tour operators, the training institute and young people seeking employment in the industry.

"Existing tour operators will also receive further training in relation to customer needs and visitor requirements," Dr Kemp said.

"A component of the program will be set aside for persons disadvantaged through lack of skills and opportunities in the job market."

Attachment:

• Fact sheet

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