Aus-Thai tourism on strong footing

 In the speech to the recent breakfast hosted by the Australian-Thailand Chamber of Commerce in Bangkok, he said the Australia-Thailand aviation market is Australia's 6 th largest as more than 80,000 Thais visited Australia during 2007, with a further 225,000 travellers en route to Australia transiting via Thailand that year.

 The air services negotiations in July resulted in the maximum number of possible weekly flights increasing from 35 to 40 B747-400 equivalent services - and this will increase again to 45 from March 2009.

 "These increases are vital to our tourism market as they will improve Australia's access to Bangkok and its extensive network of connections throughout Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

"It is now up to Australia's tourism and aviation industries to work together to capitalise on the new opportunities presented and maximise the potential for growth."

 Ferguson also outlined the work being done by the Australian Government and the Australian tourism industry to better meet the demands of a changing international tourism market.

Minister Ferguson said: "Providing tourists to Australia a higher quality experience and better value for money will increase Australia's competitiveness as a tourist destination.

"My commitment to tourism accreditation and the Australian Government's recently-announced National Long-Term Tourism Strategy will help achieve these goals.

"Through this Strategy, the Australian Government will respond to long-standing supply-side issues such as tourism investment, infrastructure, and labour shortages.

"The Australian Government is also establishing a national tourism accreditation framework which will help lift the standard of the Australian tourism experience and allow accredited businesses to differentiate themselves as quality operators who meet the expectations of discerning customers."