Tourism Australia grabs John O’Neill
Tourism Minister Fran Bailey has stated that the latest audit of international visitors proved doomsayers wrong and insisted Tourism Australia had “moved on” from damaging internal politicking.
Figures show total international visitors increased 1per cent in 2005-06 after a record increase the previous financial year.
Almost 5.04million visitors spent 10per cent more than in 2004-05, adding $18.8billion in economic value to Australia.
During the June quarter, the number of Chinese visitors jumped by 24per cent and North American tourism leapt 19per cent in the full year.
Ms Bailey said it was too early to judge whether the “Where The Bloody Hell Are You?” campaign spearheaded by model Lara Bingle was working. “We’re just a few months into what’s a three-year campaign and it will evolve further as we go,” she said.
In other news, exiting soccer boss John O’Neill will join the board of Tourism Australia.
The minister said she had been wooing Mr O’Neill for months and only yesterday confirmed the departing chief executive of Football Federation Australia had agreed to join the TA board.
Ms Bailey said the 2005-06 tourism figures had been depressed by global interest in the World Cup finals in Germany. where the Socceroos exceeded expectations by reaching the last 16.
“John did such a great job for soccer and we’re rapt to have him on board,” she said.
And in a final swipe, Ms Bailey added that TA had benefited from the departure of managing director Scott Morrison, the former NSW Liberal Party director who fell out with the minister and the TA board.
“We’ve moved on and it was without question the right decision by the board,” Ms Bailey said of Mr Morrison’s departure.
She said she was seeking a replacement for Mr Morrison who would be “more of a team player” capable of working closely with state bodies, industry and the Government.
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