$10 million funding for a tourism industry digital hub

The Australian Government is delivering on its commitment to help the tourism industry build a strong, secure, and skilled workforce.

As part of the Albanese Government's additional $48 million package for Australia's tourism and travel industry, $10 million in funding is supporting the development of a national one-stop digital hub for tourism, travel and hospitality employers and workers.

This grant has been provided to Accommodation Australia to expand and promote its existing online platform, 'The Hub.'

The Hub will serve as a national online skills and employment platform for the tourism, travel, and hospitality industry. It will connect workers with jobs, as well as upskilling and training opportunities for the homegrown and international workers that the industry needs.

Accommodation Australia has appointed well-respected digital project manager James Lawton to spearhead the project.

The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows that tourism employment rose from 443,000 jobs in 2021-22, to 626,000 in 2022-23, from a peak of 700,900 in 2018-19, highlighting the need to support and retain these workers, as well as attract new workers to what is a vibrant and dynamic industry with a range of career opportunities.

We have already rolled out a number of initiatives in support of rebuilding the industry's workforce following the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, including our $7.5 million 'Choose Tourism' program, which is being delivered in partnership with the States and Territories.

The Australian Government will continue to work closely with Accommodation Australia to monitor the delivery of the Hub, and I look forward to the positive contribution it will make to the careers of Australia's tourism, travel, and hospitality workers.