Kate Lundy (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting for Industry and Innovation) Share this | Hansard source

Our tourism industry is one of the major beneficiaries of the increasing prominence of Australian sport in Asia. For example, the pre-event benefits report prepared for the Cricket World Cup has estimated that there would be more than 1.4 million international bed nights, with a large number of those visitors coming from Asia.

In addition, Tennis Australia has just concluded their trophy tour through Asia, promoting the Australian Open as the Grand Slam of the Asia-Pacific region. In terms of visitors from Asia over the next decade, Tennis Australia expects the percentage of total gate entries to grow by 37 per cent, a phenomenal result that I am confident they will achieve. Tourism and sport are already closely related, and as Australian sport continues to grow within Asia I have no doubt that this will continue to be a strong and emerging market.