Today, I wanted to provide you with a timely advocacy update, which is meant to read-alongside this important update from Tourism Tasmania.

It's in times of uncertainty and disruption, that our enduring and collaborative partnership with Tourism Tasmania and our Regional Tourism Organisations comes to the fore.  Please know, that we are all working very closely together as we continue to monitor the situation globally, nationally and here in Tasmania, ensuring we are sharing industry information and advocating for our operators.

With that in mind, I'd like to strongly encourage you to take part in the Industry Pulse Check Survey that Tourism Tasmania has developed. This is important to inform our collective efforts - it shouldn't take long.

I also want to bring to your attention the Premier's Ministerial Statement to Parliament, which included an announcement around new legislation designed to improve transparency, strengthen compliance, and enhance Tasmania’s ability to act during fuel disruptions.  Premier Rockliff notes that this Bill includes an initiative where the Government can temporarily set maximum fuel prices to protect consumers from unreasonable spikes.

At the same time and in the lead up to the next National Cabinet, a state-wide coalition of business peak bodies continues to advocate to the Federal Government to temporarily reduce the fuel excise, and all State and Territory tourism industry councils have written to the Federal Government emphasising the importance of fuel security, especially in regional Australia.

The leadership of Tasmania’s visitor economy will continue to meet regularly. In the meantime, it was a real pleasure to join the Dark Mofo team at the annual launch of the mid-winter festival, and what a delight that our new Spirit of Tasmania V will be included in the festival during its time in Hobart, giving more Tasmanians the opportunity to catch a glimpse before it begins operating in October.

And in news you may have missed, how cool is the new partnership between celebrated chef Rodney Dunn - last year's Tourism Champion and Co-Founder and Executive Chef at The Agrarian Kitchen - and the West Coast Wilderness Railway! Rodney has curated two new seasonal menus for the Railway - another fantastic example of how well we collaborate down here in Tasmania.

During this time, I intend to provide weekly updates, which you should expect on a Friday each week (except for next week which is Good Friday of course!).

And finally, a quick staffing update for the TICT.  From Monday 30 March, we will be welcoming Natalie Ellis to the team until the end of the year.  She will be leading our events, corporate partners and communications work program, taking over Bella's role.  She can be contacted on [email protected].  

Amy Hills, CEO, and the TICT Team