Talks are underway to establish a so-called travel bubble between Tasmania and the ACT - but the state's peak tourism body says the ultimate aim should be for the borders to be opened to visitors from Victoria and New South Wales.
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Premier Peter Gutwein and ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr have confirmed that discussions have begun between their governments around starting direct flights between the jurisdictions.
"The Tasmanian government is in early discussions with the ACT to consider options for establishing flights between the ACT and Tasmania when we consider it safe to do so," Mr Gutwein said. "As we've said we will have more to say regarding our borders in July."
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Tourism Industry Council Tasmania chief executive Luke Martin pointed out that two thirds of interstate visitors came from Victoria and New South Wales and thus those markets needed to be the focus in planning for a tourism renaissance.
In the year ending December 2019, 70 per cent of interstate visitors to Tasmania were from Victoria and New South Wales, while 2.6 per cent were from the ACT.
"Clearly the main game for Tasmania is Victoria and New South Wales," Mr Martin said.
He did, however, welcome the Tasmania-ACT travel bubble discussion.
"The tourism industry nationally wants to see an orderly national approach to border restrictions being lifted," he said.
"If this means connections between some states can be restored sooner than others, we'll want to see Tasmania maximise its opportunities there."
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