Thisweek I will attend the 10th APEC Tourism Ministers' Meeting in PortMoresby, Papua New Guinea. At this meeting, I will discuss with APECcounterparts how we can work together to advance sustainable tourism in theAsia-Pacific region.
Tourismis a major driver of jobs, trade and investment opportunities and economicdevelopment. A vibrant tourism sector is vital to the prosperity of our region,contributing 3 per cent of the combined GDP of APEC economies. The World Traveland Tourism Council has forecast that by 2027, tourism in the region would beworth over USD 2.6 trillion.
TheAPEC economies are also a significant source of tourists for Australia,comprising around 70 per cent (6.5 million) of our short-term visitors. Inaddition to the economic returns generated, tourism plays a key role instrengthening people-to-people links with our region. The benefits of thiscannot be underestimated.
TheAPEC Tourism Ministers' Meeting will focus on the use of transformativetechnologies to promote sustainable tourism growth, and on the economicsignificance of tourism for regional cooperation, trade, job creation andinnovation.
Themeeting also provides a platform to promote Australia's tourism sector andadvance our tourism priorities to compete effectively in the global economyinto the future.
Ilook forward to meeting my APEC tourism counterparts in Port Moresby and topromoting Australia's ambitious agenda for the tourism industry.