Tourism Industry Welcomes Increase in Bass Strait Ferry Rebate
The Tourism Industry Council of Tasmania has welcomed the Rudd Government’s decision to increase the standard Bass Strait passenger vehicle rebate from $150 to $180.
TICT Chief Executive Officer Daniel Hanna said today the Tasmanian tourism industry would benefit greatly from the fare rebate decision confirmed by the Federal Transport Minister Anthony Albanese this week and expected to be included in tonight’s Budget.
“The Tourism industry campaigned hard for this increase in the lead up to last year’s Federal election when we received commitments from both major political parties,” Mr Hanna said.
Mr Hanna said that since the Federal election a TICT delegation had met with Tasmanian Labor members as well as Mr Albanese to further press Tasmania’s case to ensure the Rudd Government kept its commitment.
“This is a big win for the TICT, for the Spirit of Tasmania, its passengers and for the Tasmanian economy.
“The Bass Strait Passenger Vehicle Equalisation Scheme is vital for the ferry service, the tourism industry and the regional economy.
The scheme provides a rebate against the fare charged by a ferry operator to transport a driver plus passenger vehicle by sea across Bass Strait. The base level of the rebate has not been increased in more than 10 years.
“In our submission to both parties last year we argued that in the decade since the introduction of the BSPVES, the cost of traveling long distances by passenger vehicle had increased significantly.
“The TICT asked for an increase in the rebate by $30 to $180 each way and that the scheme be indexed to the CPI into the future.
Mr Hanna said the increase in the rebate would help offset some the increased costs of running the Spirits of Tasmania ferries caused by rising fuel costs which would ease pressure for fare increases and encourage more people to use the ferry to visit the State.
