Australia strengthens tourism ties with the US

Today I attended the opening of the Australia Marketplace North America in Los Angeles as part of my visit to the United States, to promote Australia as a tourism destination and to discuss opportunities and challenges for the industry.

Australia Marketplace North America is a wonderful opportunity for Australia to showcase the wealth of world class tourism experiences on offer to our north American visitors.

The two-day event hosted by Tourism Australia, attracts around 200 buyers and sellers with pre-scheduled appointments to discuss their tourism offerings and engage in networking opportunities. As part of this, Australian tourism industry leaders can connect directly with travel agencies and tour operators in North America.

I was joined by Australian Consul-General, Los Angeles Jane Duke, Tourism Australia Managing Director Phillipa Harrison and representatives from the Australian and US tourism industry.

In 2019, the US was Australia's third largest source market for international visitation and the second most valuable for spend. 818,000 Americans travelled to Australia in 2019 spending $3.9 billion.

During my time in Parliament I have been fortunate to hold a number of tourism related roles. As the Minister for Trade and Tourism, I look forward to doing everything I can to help the industry recover after a challenging few years.

The Albanese Government is committed to supporting Australia's tourism industry to return to the economic powerhouse we know it to be and to ensure that the world knows Australia is open for business.