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| Tourism and Transport Forum Australia | |
|---|---|
| Name | Tourism and Transport Forum Australia |
| Type | Industry peak body |
| Founded | 1993 |
| Headquarters | Sydney, New South Wales |
| Region | Australia |
Tourism and Transport Forum Australia is an Australian peak industry body representing major companies and peak bodies in the tourism, aviation, freight, hotel, and transport sectors. It engages in public policy advocacy, industry coordination, and stakeholder engagement with federal and state institutions. The organisation interacts with a wide range of private corporations, statutory authorities, and international partners.
The organisation traces roots to antecedent groups that followed precedents set by bodies such as the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Tourism Council Australia, and associations influenced by the reforms of the Hawke government and Keating government. It emerged amid structural change in the Qantas era and regulatory shifts shaped by the Hilmer Review and responses to international events like the September 11 attacks and the SARS outbreak. Its development paralleled major infrastructure projects associated with entities such as the Sydney Airport Corporation and policy debates reflected in submissions to the Productivity Commission, the Parliament of Australia, and reviews by the Reserve Bank of Australia.
The organisation is governed by a board drawn from leaders of companies like Qantas, Virgin Australia, AccorHotels, and associations such as the Australian Hotels Association and Airlines for Australia and New Zealand. Executive leadership reports to boards in the tradition of corporate governance codified by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission and standards promulgated after inquiries like the Cole Royal Commission. Its secretariat operates from Sydney and liaises with jurisdictions including New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, Australian Capital Territory, and the Northern Territory.
The organisation has taken positions on aviation policy interacting with regulators such as the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, and on infrastructure funding models discussed alongside the Infrastructure Australia agenda. It has submitted policy proposals related to immigration settings debated in the Department of Home Affairs framework and workforce strategies tied to programs like Skilling Australians Fund. On climate and environment, it has engaged with policy instruments referenced in debates involving the Clean Energy Regulator, the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting architecture, and international frameworks such as the Paris Agreement. It has also provided input into major national strategies like the National Tourism Strategy and planning processes tied to the National Freight and Supply Chain Strategy.
The organisation runs programs that intersect with training bodies such as TAFE NSW, Australian Apprenticeships, and industry-led initiatives similar to standards promoted by Standards Australia. It collaborates with destination marketing organisations including Destination NSW, Visit Victoria, Tourism Australia, and regional entities. Initiatives have focused on digital transformation comparable to efforts by CSIRO innovation programs and partnerships with research institutions like the University of Sydney, Monash University, and the University of Queensland.
Membership comprises corporations, state tourism organisations, and peak industry bodies including Qantas, Virgin Australia, Boeing, Airbus, InterContinental Hotels Group, AccorHotels, Marriott International, Australian Federation of Travel Agents, and state bodies such as Destination NSW and Tourism Tasmania. Funding streams include membership dues, sponsorship arrangements with multinational firms, and commissioning of research from consultancies similar to Deloitte and PwC. The membership model reflects structures seen in organisations like the Business Council of Australia and Australian Industry Group.
It organises conferences and roundtables that draw participants from institutions such as the Treasury (Australia), the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications, and the Australian Bureau of Statistics, as well as industry stakeholders including Uber, Booking.com, Expedia Group, and the Australian Tourism Data Warehouse (ATDW). Publications include policy briefings, economic reports, and submissions to inquiries in the manner of reports produced by the Grattan Institute and the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
The organisation has influenced transport and tourism policy, infrastructure investment decisions, and regulatory reforms referenced in parliamentary hearings and inquiries such as those conducted by the Senate of Australia and House of Representatives committees. Critics have drawn comparisons with lobbying practices of groups like the Minerals Council of Australia and debated its positions in media outlets including The Australian, The Sydney Morning Herald, and ABC. Concerns raised include industry capture debates similar to controversies around entities like the Tampa affair policy discussions and contested environmental assessments such as those involving the Great Barrier Reef or major development approvals.
Category:Organisations based in Sydney Category:Business organisations based in Australia