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The Liberal National Party's first budget since coming into Government in Queensland includes additional funding for tourism, events and the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Queensland Treasurer Tim Nicholls handed down the controversial budget in the Queensland Parliament yesterday (11th September) announcing an additional $20 million for the marketing of Queensland tourism, just $50 million for major events across the State and $20 million for the Commonwealth Games over the next financial year.

Queensland Minister for Major Events, Jann Stuckey, says that figure for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games will "rapidly increase" as the event approaches.

Earlier this year, Minister Stuckey played down the Queensland Government's planned investment, saying the Games would be a no-frills affair.

Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) Managing Director, Felicia Mariani said the funding announcements are a strong recognition of the importance of the tourism and events sectors contribution to the Queensland economy.

Mariani stated "ATEC congratulates the Queensland Treasurer on delivering a fair budget to the tourism sector in light of a challenging financial situation.

"The additional $20 million for destination marketing will be a welcome enhancement to Tourism Queensland's (TQ) demand driving activities and recognises Tourism is a pillar of the state's economy.

"We are currently seeing small signs of recovery in our traditional markets including the US and Japan and there continues to be strong growth opportunities from the east, with China leading the pack.

"Making the most of these opportunities will be imperative to the strength of the Queensland tourism economy and TQ must have the resources to leverage the growth potential."

Mariani said the industry's capacity to maximise the opportunity was dependent on ensuring the industry is export ready, concluding "Queensland tourism businesses need to be not only export ready, but China ready, and

ATEC calls on the Government to allocate a portion of its regional tourism funding to the development of good destination management plans.

"Destination management plans will allow regions to prepare and respond to the demands and expectations of the changing consumer preferences in our new, emerging and traditional international markets."

However, the budget has slashed arts grants by $12.4 million with the Queensland Art Gallery and Queensland Museum's budget cut by $2.2 million.

The institution is expected to shed 25 staff positions as a result.

Another budget casualty has been the Queensland School for Travelling Show Children, an Education Queensland backed primary school that provides continuous schooling opportunities for families that move with the show circuits across the eastern states of Australia.

Image shows Brisbane Southbank.

13th July 2012 - STEPHEN GREGG TO CHAIR TOURISM QUEENSLAND

27th March 2012 - NEWMAN PUTS TOURISM TO THE FORE AFTER CRUSHING QUEENSLAND ELECTION WIN

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