Good news for Business Events Tasmania (BET): the 2024 Tasmanian Budget will inject $5m into the organisation to help secure national and international conferences. 240km off the south coast of Victoria, Tasmania is Australia’s most sparsely-populated state, consisting of mountain ranges and rainforest frequently sought after by ecotourists.
The added funding has been granted to spend over two years. $3.8m is provided for the Business Events Attraction Fund, and $1.2m for business-to-business marketing.
BET CEO Marnie Craig said the BEAF is critical for securing events: “The BEAF, which was established by the Tasmanian Government in 2019 and which BET took over the administration of in September 2021, allows BET to offer financial support at the critical bidding stage, to help secure national and international conferences to the state.
“In addition, the increased investment for marketing will allow us to represent Tasmania at trade shows nationally and internationally.”
Craig also noted that BET is planning a new programme to introduce key figures to Tasmania as a destination: “We are also in the final stages of planning a familiarisation programme that will bring more than 60 event planners and key decision-makers to Tasmania who have either never been to the state before in a business event capacity or haven’t been for many years.”
BET aims to grow the value of the business events sector to $300m (up from $199m) annually by 2028. “The funding provided in the recent budget is critically important if we are to achieve our goal of growing the value of the business events sector in Tasmania,” she said.
Craig thanked the Tasmanian Government for its contribution and support.
