Tourism is not only an important trade and economic driver, it is also a positive force in developing and deepening Australia's relations with other nations. The Tourism Division continues to work towards enhancing international government-to-government relationships through a range of bilateral agreements and participation in multilateral fora. This involvement reflects the importance of tourism in international trade and global markets.
Bilateral cooperation provides significant opportunities for both public and private sectors, particularly in the areas of research and analysis, marketing and promotions, skills and training development, destination management, safety and security and market access(liberalisation of tourism related services and entry arrangements).
Australia continues its active involvement in multilateral fora such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Tourism Working Group and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and the United Nations World Tourism Organization. These relationships allow:
- greater direct access to research projects and other activities
- raising of Australia’s international profile and the level of awareness of capabilities across a range of areas
- expansion of Australia’s international network of contacts.