Concerns tourism in Tasmania may exacerbate social inequalities: research paper

The paper Education, Jobs and the Political Economy of Tourism: Expectations and Realities in the case of Tasmania, by University of Tasmania researchers Lisa Denny, Becky Shelley and Can-Seng Ooi, looked at the relationship between tourism and education and Tasmanians' expectations about tourism compared to the reality.

"There are emerging concerns that tourism may be exacerbating social inequalities," the paper said.

"Using data from the Tourism Satellite Account and the Australian Bureau of Statistics, this paper confirms that the tourism industry is growing its economic contribution in the state and is contributing to job polarisation.

"There is a mismatch between educational requirements and educational attainment within the workforce ... indicating both over-qualification (23.1 per cent) and underqualification (35.3 per cent) of workers in the industry.

"While highly skilled jobs are evident, most are low-skilled and precarious."

The paper suggests the growth of tourism in Tasmania may be undermining social mobility and improved life chances.

"[While tourism] is the third highest employing sector in the state, most of the workforce earn less than the median income and a third are living below the poverty line," it said.

"Over four in five (82.8 per cent) Tasmanian tourism workers' total income is less than the median wage for all Australian workers, approximately $55,063 per annum.

"A third (32.4 per cent) of tourism workers' income is less than $20,799 per annum ($399 per week), which is considerably below the poverty line of half the median household income, equivalent to around $433 per week for single persons."

The paper said tourism carries many expectations for Tasmanians, with it playing a central role in the government's aspiration to create jobs in the state.

"Particularly that tourism is good for the economy, that it creates employment, that it is good for small business, and that it promotes Tasmania more generally," it said.

"However, and significantly, the greatest contribution to the Tasmanian economy is actually that of the health care and social assistance industry in terms of both contribution to gross state product and the share of employment.

"That said, the Tasmanian tourism sector contribution to the state economy is the highest of any state or territory, and 3.8 percentage points higher than the Australian tourism sector to the national economy (6.1 per cent)."

The paper found there was a growing dissatisfaction among Tasmanians regarding the increase in tourist visitation to the state.

"Four in five Tasmanians now believe there are negative impacts associated with an increase in visitor numbers to the state, increasing from two in three in 2016," it said.

"These negative impacts are related to road infrastructure and congestion, environmental impacts and increasing prices for locals, including housing.

"Since the 2016 survey, three additional negative impacts have been identified as associated with increased visitation to the state; over-crowding, lack of accommodation and prices rises."