Eric Hutchinson (Lyons, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Will the minister update the House on what the government is doing to promote Australia as a destination for tourism, to provide economic growth and to increase job opportunities for Australians?

Ms Julie Bishop (Curtin, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Lyons for his question and I know that he strongly supports the tourism industry in Tasmania. During my recent visit to the United States as part of our premier public diplomacy program G'day USA, I launched for Tourism Australia in New York their latest advertising campaign based on coastal and aquatics experiences in Australia with a very well known Byron Bay surfer, one Chris Hemsworth. As it turns out, making Chris Hemsworth our latest ambassador for tourism and launching a campaign to lure United States visitors to Australian beaches in the middle of one of the worst blizzards that New York has experienced turned out to be a masterly stroke, because the interest from the US tourism industry, the travel industry, was enormous. The estimated advertising value of the media coverage in the days following the campaign launch is about $50 million—

Ed Husic (Chifley, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Table the autographs! Table the selfies!

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Chifley is warned.

Ms Julie Bishop (Curtin, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There were 1,500 articles in the United States media, and on social media the instant response was overwhelming—about 330,000 likes, re-posts and retweets. Promoting Australia as a destination for tourists around the world is a core part of our international engagement, a core part of the work of our diplomats and our posts overseas. It is also fundamental to our foreign and, in particular, trade policy. The tourism industry in Australia—

Opposition members interjecting—

Members opposite should listen to this because it is important. The tourism industry in Australia is worth three per cent of our GDP. It contributes $43 billion annually to the Australian economy and directly employs 500,000 Australians. The United States tourism market is one of our most valuable.

Mr Danby interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Melbourne Ports is warned.

Ms Julie Bishop (Curtin, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Last year the contribution of US tourists was over $3 billion to the Australian economy. That makes it one of our third largest tourism markets. That contribution came from 600,000 American tourists to Australia. The United States' premier lifestyle magazine Conde Nast Traveller has nominated Australia as the tourism destination for 2016—not first among equals, not one out of 10, but the only tourism destination that Conde Nast Traveller has nominated for 2016. We on this side of the House support the tourism industry and its contribution to growth and jobs.