Wednesday 22 November 2006

TOURISM - TASMANIA BADGES

Mr FINCH - Mr President, I have a question to the Leader. Will the Minister for Tourism consider giving the small, golden Tasmania badges free to groups and individuals going overseas to act as unofficial ambassadors for Tasmania? Given the free public relations role of these Tasmanian travellers, has the Government other ideas on how they can be helped in promoting Tasmania?
Mr PARKINSON - I thank the honourable member for his question. I prefer the green ones myself.
Members laughing.
Mr PARKINSON - The Department of Economic Development provides small quantities of Tasmania lapel pins for specifically targeted overseas development and promotional visits, of particular interest to trade missions. Occasionally services clubs or professional groups travelling overseas are provided with a small number of pins on request. These pins are also available for purchase from Brand Tasmania Inc. through members' electorate allowances. The Department of Economic Development and Tourism Tasmania have available a range of brochures addressing business, tourism, trade and investment opportunities; the brochures can be made available to special interest groups for distribution. It should be appreciated, however, that all promotional materials should be provided on a strategically targeted basis. It should also be noted that the Government has identified enhancement of on-line information as a particularly effective way to promote the State and on-line resources have been and are being developed accordingly