ATEC confident about Australia’s prospects

The Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) believes Australia’s tourism market will not suffer from the strong dollar.ATEC’s managing director Matt Hingerty explained the inbound tourism sector is performing well compared to last year’s levels, reports e-Travel Blackboard.

He added that the strength of the Australian dollar is being offset by the reduction in the cost of flights to Australia and that marketing campaigns launched by Tourism Australia and other states have been successful in promoting the destination worldwide.

However, Mr Hingerty did raise concerns that the currency’s strength could eventually impact on the country’s tourism industry.

“If the dollar remains historically high over the long term, it will impact us and members report that the horizon beyond Christmas is less clear,” said the ATEC director.

The ATEC was formed in 1972 and aims to represent the views of the country’s tourism export sector.

Written by Nicholas Scott.