A new report released by Tourism Research Australia today, sets out the full extent of tourisms contribution to Australias economy including indirect proceeds.

The updated research shows tourisms direct GDP contribution was $33.9 billion in 200910, an increase of 3.2 per cent on 200809. In 200910, the industry indirectly contributed a further $37.8 billion of GDP. Combining direct and indirect contributions, tourism's total contribution to the Australian economy in 2009-10 was $71.7 billion or around 5.6 per cent of GDP, an increase of around $2.1 billion or 3.0 per cent from 200809.

Employment in the tourism value chain is also significant with around 876,400 people (or 7.9 per cent of the workforce) directly and indirectly employed in the industry.

The value of tourism is often underrated, said the Minister for Tourism, Martin Ferguson AM MP.

By measuring the indirect benefits of tourism, we get a more complete picture of tourisms significant contribution to the Australian economy.

This research shows that tourism is about much more than just travel agents and tour guides.

Tourism has a large impact across the economy, and in ways that are often not immediately apparent, such as the total tourism gross value added in sectors like manufacturing.

It is clear that efforts to help tourism grow by cutting red tape, boosting skills and improving the quality and offering of tourism product will produce huge flow on benefits.

That is why the Government is implementing the National Long Term Tourism Strategy in partnership with the States and Territories to encourage investment, promote industry resilience and Indigenous tourism, and identify labour and skills needs so we can meet our goal of $160 billion in tourism spending by 2020.

The Minister Assisting on Tourism, Senator Nick Sherry, said tourism had a big multiplier impact on the rest of the Australian economy.

For every one-dollar increase in tourism output, an additional 91 cents is generated to the rest of the economy. This is stronger than for other important drivers of the Australian economy including mining, retail trade and education, Senator Sherry said.

It is an important reminder that growth in tourism goes beyond the tourism industry to most other industries, and this is particularly important for small businesses in Australia.

Tourisms Contribution to the Australian Economy 1997-98 to 2009-10 is at www.ret.gov.au/tra

Media contacts: Cathryn Tilmouth 0401 222 941 (Ferguson), Joe Scavo (Sherry) 0413 800 757