It’s that time of year again when I want to reach out and sincerely thank you for everything you do to keep Tasmania’s visitor economy ticking along.

As a valued member of the TICT community, you are not only contributing to the strong results we have achieved on behalf of industry, but you are also part of a genuinely collaborative network. It is a network that works together every day to strengthen our visitor economy and, above all, support the one in six Tasmanians whose jobs depend on it. Quite simply, we work together better than any other tourism industry in the country, and that is something I think we should all be proud of.

It has been another big year. Federal and state elections, the lead-up to two state budgets and some significant public debates. Through it all, we have continued to provide a calm, considered and credible voice on the importance of the visitor economy.

As we look ahead to 2026, I genuinely believe we are on the cusp of a new era for our industry. The delivery of the two new Spirit vessels in October 2026, strong investment in airport infrastructure, and major intergenerational projects right across the state all point to real opportunity.

With this rapidly changing environment in mind, next year I intend to introduce dedicated and bespoke quarterly webinars exclusive to our members and accredited operators. These sessions will provide regular updates on our advocacy efforts and program development, and create a space for you to ask questions and stay informed as issues evolve.

Advocacy remains at the heart of our work. On the critical issue of access to and affordability of insurance, the TICT has now finalised its research into the impact on operators and the visitor economy. This work has been presented to the Premier's Visitor Economy Advisory Committee, which has asked that it inform the development of the Tasmanian Government's TasInsure policy. We will release the results of this in the new year. At the same time, we are developing practical tools to help operators have more informed and confident conversations at renewal time, while continuing our advocacy at both state and federal levels.

Another key advocacy issue is the Tasmanian Government’s proposed short stay accommodation levy. The Government has now released a discussion paper and draft legislation following the announcement made in 2024. The TICT remains opposed to this proposal, which has progressed without meaningful consultation with our industry. We will be lodging a submission outlining our concerns in the new year, and I encourage you to review the legislation and provide your own feedback if you wish.

While challenges remain, please be assured the TICT will continue to advocate strongly at the highest levels to help resolve these in 2026. Your voice and engagement are critical to this work.

There are also several opportunities for you to stay involved and informed. You can have your say on the future sustainability of Tasmania’s tourism industry, tune in to the latest episode of our Talking Tourism Podcast, and nominate for the 2026 Tassie’s Top Tourism Towns awards. Further details are included below.

Importantly, I encourage you to save some dates in your calendar, particularly for our flagship events, the Tasmanian Tourism Conference and the Tasmanian Tourism Awards Gala.

On behalf of the entire TICT team, I wish you a productive, happy and importantly a safe Christmas and New Year period. We look forward to working with you again in 2026.

Amy Hills, CEO, and the TICT Team