Holding out on tourism
December 11th 2008 12:01
The Australian state of Victoria is outperforming the rest of the country in tourism growth.
Figures released today (11 December 2008) show Victoria's share of international visitors to Australia is at its highest level in 15 years. The Victorian government says the numbers have increased 1.2 percent year-on-year for the 12 months to September.
Tourism spending is up an impressive 10 per cent in the same period.
They are creditable figures, and the Victorian Minister for Tourism, Tim Holding, was quick to score a political point or two.
"(It’s) not only good for Victoria, but when we compare to the rest of Australia, we've really been outperforming the national average, and more importantly, beating some of our interstate rivals," he gloated.
And then he added that Victorian tourism is “continuing to grow, despite the global economic gloom”.
This is doubtful, and we may have moved from political mileage to political spin.
The only quoted figures are for the year to the end of September. There was no “economic gloom” for 50 of those 52 weeks.
If Mr Holding can show that Victorian tourism has continued to grow since 15 September, the day that Lehman Bros went bang and the economic crisis entered our lives, then we will owe him an apology. But had he been able to show that, one suspects he would have.
Just as one suspects that this time next year Mr Holding will not have buoyant figures to crow about.
www.abc.net.au
| 59 |
| Vote |
Add To: 
subscribe to this blog
Comment by Janet Collins
Acceptable Etiquette
The Social Critic
Janet Collins Blog
I lke, however, your cynicism as to the figures, resurrected that for me. Governments and their statistics?
Comment by Chris Champion
Vyoos
Zoomies
Bloggercises
The Blog of Lists
Newly Old
Money Whither