45139 (2025). Glen Bennett to the Minister for Tourism and Hospitality

45139 (2025). Glen Bennett to the Minister for Tourism and Hospitality: What discussions, if any, has she had with the hotel and accommodation sector about ensuring there is sufficient capacity to support major events targeted under the $70 million Major Events and Tourism Package?

Hon Louise Upston: I regularly engage with representatives from the hotel and accommodation sector. Through this engagement, I am aware of capacity constraints, seasonal peaks, and troughs, along with the opportunities that major events present to drive visitation and generate business for accommodation providers. To ensure sufficient capacity to support events funded through the Major Events and Tourism Package, the Government is working closely with local government and Regional Tourism Organisations. Applicants to the Events Boost Fund are required to provide a letter of support from the relevant local authority. This ensures that proposed events are aligned with local priorities, including infrastructure planning and consideration of accommodation and transport capacity. Local government engagement will also form part of the Events Attraction Package process to ensure that supported events are viable, well-integrated with local planning, and able to deliver economic benefits across the visitor economy, including for the hotel and accommodation sector.