Tourism Australia is the Federal Government statutory authority, established on 1 July 2004, in accordance with the provisions of the Tourism Australia Act 2004 (Act No 74 of 2004, assented to 23 June 2004), which is responsible for international and domestic tourism marketing as well as the delivery of research and forecasts for the sector.

Tourism Australia is a national body that incorporates the functions of four separate organisations: the Australian Tourist Commission; See Australia; the Bureau of Tourism Research and Tourism Forecasting Council.

Tourism Australia’s functions under the Tourism Australia Act 2004 are:

• To increase the awareness of potential international travellers of Australia as a destination; and

• to increase the awareness of potential domestic travellers of Australia as a place to travel; and
• to increase the knowledge of potential travellers, both international and domestic, of Australia; and
• to increase the desire of potential international travellers to travel to Australia; and
• to increase the desire of potential travellers, both international and domestic, to travel throughout Australia; and
• to conduct research into, and analysis of, international and domestic travel; and
• to report on trends in international and domestic travel; and
• to communicate effectively with the Australian tourism industry on issues that may affect it; and
• to increase awareness throughout Australia of the contributions of tourism to Australia’s economy, society and environment.

Tourism Australia is subject to the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997 (CAC Act). This recognises commercial focus of the new body and the need for it to operate flexibly in a commercial environment.

Tourism Australia is represented in the Federal Cabinet by the Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources the Hon Ian Macfarlane MP; is governed by a 10-member Board, which reports to the Federal Minister for Small Business and Tourism, the Hon Fran Bailey MP and a Parliamentary Secretary, the Hon Warren Entsch MP.

Tourism Australia operates from base offices in Sydney and Canberra; overseas offices in Auckland, London, Frankfurt, Los Angeles, Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore, Taipei, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok. 

Legislation administered

Commonwealth of Australia Act No 74 of 2004, Tourism Australia Act 2004

Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997 (CAC Act)

Historical agency address

Sydney (Tourism Australia)  1 July 2004 -  : Level 18, Tower Two Darling Park, 201 Sussex Street, Sydney, NSW 2001

Canberra (Tourism Research Australia)       : Level 1, 33 Allara Street, Canberra ACT 2601 

Sources

·       Tourism Info – Tourism Australia online, http://www.tourism.australia.com/ (accessed on 30 Sep 2005)

·       Tourism Australia Act 2004