10 February 2026: The Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) has formally lodged its submission to the Australian Government’s 2026–27 Federal Budget, calling for decisive Commonwealth investment to unlock growth in the visitor economy ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
QTIC’s submission positions Queensland’s visitor economy as a national asset, underpinning export earnings, regional employment and Australia’s global brand, while identifying the next four Commonwealth Budgets as the critical delivery window to maximise the long-term economic dividend of Brisbane 2032.
QTIC CEO Natassia Wheeler said targeted federal action is needed now to ensure Australia remains globally competitive and investment-ready in the lead-up to the Games.
“With Brisbane 2032 now less than seven years away, the next four Federal Budgets will determine whether Australia fully captures the economic and legacy opportunities of the Games,” Wheeler said.
“Our submission focuses on a small number of high-impact levers that can unlock growth at scale, support regional economies and strengthen Australia’s tourism competitiveness.”
The submission outlines four priority areas for Commonwealth action in 2026–27:
International aviation access, demand recovery and border efficiency to drive high-value visitation and regional dispersal.
Tourism workforce supply, skills, retention and housing to address one of the sector’s most significant growth constraints.
Insurance affordability, identified as a structural market failure limiting business viability, events delivery and post-disaster recovery, particularly in regional Queensland.
First Nations tourism, recognised as a high-value growth opportunity and a cornerstone of Australia’s cultural tourism proposition and Brisbane 2032 legacy.
The submission calls for increased investment in international destination marketing, including an additional $45 million per annum for Tourism Australia to offset inflationary pressures and intensifying global competition, alongside co-investment in aviation attraction and accelerated rollout of digital border processing.
Insurance reform features prominently, with QTIC urging a coordinated Commonwealth-led package to address affordability and availability challenges facing tourism and events operators, including targeted premium relief, reinsurance reform and nationally consistent civil liability settings.
Wheeler said workforce supply remains one of the most material risks to tourism growth, particularly as demand builds toward 2032.
“Tourism cannot grow without people,” Wheeler said. “We are calling for dedicated federal investment in training, skills pathways, workforce housing and visa settings that support retention and continuity in priority regions.”
The submission also highlights the need for streamlined investment facilitation, enabling infrastructure and approvals reform to accelerate delivery of tourism projects, alongside practical support for tourism businesses to transition to net zero and build climate resilience.
“Queensland’s visitor economy already supports more than 260,000 jobs and plays a vital role in regional communities,” Wheeler said.
“With the right policy settings and targeted investment, tourism can drive national jobs, export earnings and long-term regional development well beyond Brisbane 2032.”
QTIC has welcomed continued partnership with the Australian Government to progress the priorities outlined in the submission.
ENDS.
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