The state's Antarctic and Southern Ocean research sector contributes close to $159 million to Tasmania's economy each year, a new report says.
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This is a boost of $38.4 million on the value of the sector to the state two years ago.
The report by Wells Economic Analysis to the State Growth Department shows that overall expenditure by Antarctic organisations in Tasmania was $229.4 million in 2019-20.
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This was up from $167.4 million in 2011-12.
Employment in the sector also grew over that time from 671 full-time equivalents in Tasmania to 947 full-time equivalents.
The average wage in the Antarctic sector was $136,198 in 2018-19 which was much higher than the average Tasmanian wage of $79,488.
The report notes there were 52 PhD students at the University of Tasmania researching in Antarctic and Southern Ocean topics in 2019-20.
Thirty-two of these were international students and five were from interstate.
State Growth Minister Roger Jaensch said Australian and international expeditioners racked up an estimated 7000 bed-nights in Hobart in the second half of 2019-20 despite COVID-19 travel restrictions.
He said delegates at Antarctic and Southern Ocean conferences spent more than 4100 bed-nights in Tasmania in 2019-20.
This resulted in $3.5 million in spending by delegates.
"Cementing our reputation as the world's best Antarctic Gateway, planned investment and development within the Antarctic sector will deliver further growth in the economic contribution this sector makes to our local economy," Mr Jaensch said.