TOURISM operators are lobbying the state government to return millions of dollars cut from events sponsorship and marketing in the 2011 budget.

In its submission to Treasury, the Tourism Industry Council of Tasmania is asking for $4.5 million that was cut from Tourism Tasmania and Events Tasmania this financial year to be restored in the May budget.

TICT chief executive Luke Martin said that was a modest and fair request in light of Tasmania's difficult financial situation.

``We would want to see that (extra $2.5 million in tourism) money spent on marketing as that's the area we're just getting absolutely flogged, because we're just not spending enough and not able to compete with other states.''

He said with some major sponsorship deals winding up over the next few years it was also important to restore $2 million that was slashed from Events Tasmania.

The events to call for continuing sponsorship include the Falls Festival which receives $350,000 a year, Hobart's international women's tennis tournament, which gets $35,000 a year, and food and wine festival Taste of Tasmania, which is considering an entry fee if no additional government support is provided.

Mr Martin said tourism operators also wanted extra cash to increase the number of business events and conferences hosted in the state, and to carry out work on the Three Capes Track and the Tarkine Drive. He said the spending cuts to tourism announced in June last year were the single largest made by a Tasmanian government since Tourism Tasmania was established in the mid-1990s.

The 2012 state budget will be unveiled on May 17.