No rash decisions, Qantas evaluates marketing opportunities

The Australian flag carrier says it will not make any ‘rash decisions’ and will really take its time deciding what to do with the $44 million in marketing funds it pulled from Tourism Australia earlier this week.

Speaking at the Australian Tourism Export Council’s annual conference in Sydney, Qantas executive manager international sales Stephen Thompson stressed the carrier was still committed to promting Australia and would do so by evaluating its options and ensuring marketing decisions is right for Qantas, the industry and its partners.

“This decision will not diminish our support for the industry in any way,” he stressed.

Touching on speculations the airline would invest in state bodies, Mr Thompson said the airline would continue to work closely with state tourism boards but would also “prioritise” Australia on an international level.

Also speaking at the conference, former Victorian premier The Hon Jeff Kennett said he “didn’t mind” Qantas’ decision to withdraw funding in Tourism Australia, saying it opened the airline up to “enormous opportunity”.

However, Shadow Minister for Tourism, Hon Bob Baldwin disagreed, calling on the government to step in and “mediate a resolution”.

The Shadow Minister said Qantas’ decision to pull the money risks returning Australian overseas marketing to its previous “fragmented and inconsistent” messaging.
“It is vital that this matter be resolved as soon as possible to mitigate the impact on the tourism market,” the Minister said.

Sourced: etravelblackboardasia