Published: 21 May 2009.

Courtesy of Tourism Queensland

Tourism Minister Peter Lawlor today congratulated the Sunshine Coast Regional Council on its unanimous decision to introduce a tourism levy across all three regions.

"During these difficult economic times it is more important than ever to support Queensland's major industries and the retention of jobs," he said.

"The decision to bring the central region into line with the northern and southern regions - which already had a tourism levy - is sound and sensible.

"Access Economics recently named the Sunshine Coast the third most dependent region on tourism in Australia.

"Tourism generates more than 13 percent of the local economic output or $2.4 billion and supports almost 17 percent of the region's employment.

"Tourism is crucial to the health and viability of the Sunshine Coast underpinning the community's services and infrastructure."

Mr Lawlor said the Queensland Government strongly supported the Queensland tourism industry thr ough the funding and activities of Tourism Queensland and direct grants to regional tourism organisations such as Tourism Sunshine Coast.

"The Bligh Government has committed an additional $36million to Tourism Queensland over the next three years for new regionally focussed tourism marketing and product development campaigns.

"It is important we find ways to counteract the adverse effects of the global economic downturn, to make sure key industries such as tourism are not seriously damaged," he said.

"The Sunshine Coast tourism levy will help sustain this vital industry, ensuring tourism remains viable during the current challenging economic conditions."

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