Labor pledges $5m tourism fund revamp to bring more tourists to Tasmania

Redirecting $5m in unspent government tourism funding could give the sector a major boost, according to Labor leader Dean Winter. ALP’S PLAN >>>

Dean Winter at Hobart Airport on Monday, June 23, 2025.

Redirecting $5m in unspent government tourism funding could give the sector an extra boost, Labor leader Dean Winter says.

Mr Winter was joined by Hobart Airport CEO Norris Carter and Tourism Industry Council of Tasmania CEO Amy Hills to announce his party’s plans for the Aviation Attraction Fund should it be in power after next month’s state election.

Mr Winter said expanding the fund from only covering new routes to also fund increased capacity on existing routers would help deliver more visitors to the state.

Labor leader Dean Winter speaks to the media at Hobart Airport on Monday, June 23, 2025.

“The aviation attraction fund has been sitting there for 15 months with $5m sitting there waiting to be used, and then not a single cent has been spent.

“We need to reform this program so that we can add existing routes to what was already planned.

“This means we’ll add more flights with tens of thousands of extra tourists coming to Tasmania.

“More tourists means more money being spent to support our tourism and hospitality sectors.”

Tourism Industry Council of Tasmania CEO Amy Hills welcomed the proposal.

“We’ve got a really strong brand. We’re seeing that with aviation capacity backing us in those 50,000 additional seats coming into Hobart between now and the end of the year is excellent evidence of that,” she said.

“We believe we can really build on this momentum, especially off the back of this year’s Dark Mofo, to ensure that our destination remains really strong from a year-round perspective.”

Dean Winter, Amy Hills and Norris Carter at Hobart Airport on Monday, June 23, 2025.

Hobart Airport CEO Norris Carter said the change could deliver a huge boost for Tasmania.

“This is a small change that will have a big impact,” Mr Carter said.

“This change will allow airports to secure more seats on the most popular flights, from the most popular destinations,” he said.

“Just earlier this month, Hobart Airport was able to secure a deal with Jetstar for up to 50,000 extra passengers on flights between Hobart and Melbourne from July 1. We were able to secure that incentive deal because the guidelines for that government funding stream included existing routes.

“We want to see airports and government unlock tens of thousands more seats on flights, and this change will unlock $5m to achieve exactly that.”

Premier Jeremy Rockliff accused Labor of adopting Liberal policy.

“The Aviation Fund – established under the Tasmanian Liberal Government – is about attracting more visitors to Tasmania and securing direct international access between Tasmania and Asia,” he said.

“We have already committed to amending the guidelines to unlock tens of thousands more seats on flights to Tasmania.

“Once again Dean Winter has been caught out copying the homework of others. Tasmanians are sick of the politics. They want action. They want stability. And they want it now.”

Originally published as Labor pledges $5m tourism fund revamp to bring more tourists to Tasmania