Released 23/09/2025
The Government is continuing to create jobs and diversify our economy through targeted investment in tourism, trade and major events.
The 2025-26 Budget delivers targeted funding of more than $15 million to support Canberra’s growing visitor economy, strengthen the city’s profile and deliver high-quality events that benefit the whole community.
Backing tourism, events and destination marketing, the Government is supporting Canberra’s tourism industry with:
- Continued operational support for the Canberra Convention Bureau.
- An Aviation Stimulus Fund to improve aviation access to the capital.
- Event funding through the Major Events Fund.
- Support for core activities of Brand Canberra, the National Capital Educational Tourism Project, and in-market tourism representation.
- A partnership with Telstra to reopen Black Mountain Tower.
- Additional funding to deliver and enhance major events including Enlighten, Floriade and New Year’s Eve, and the return of Windows to the World in 2025.
“Our objective under the T2030 Tourism Strategy is to grow the value of our visitor economy through a range of targeted activities,” Chief Minister and Minister for Tourism and Trade Andrew Barr said.
“This Budget supports a growing visitor economy, with targeted funding to further expand aviation access, bring new events to Canberra, and showcase our strengths, supporting this objective.”
The Budget also includes $1.314 million for the Office for International Engagement to implement the ACT’s International Engagement Strategy.
The funding in the Budget will support:
- Tourism and Trade partnerships with the Commonwealth Government, through Tourism Australia and Austrade, in key markets identified in the International Engagement Strategy.
- Local businesses through trade readiness programs and trade missions.
- Trade missions to ASEAN nations, including Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, and further engagement with India and UK/Europe.
- Canberra’s hosting of international delegations, conferences, and cultural events.
“International engagement is essential to Canberra’s economic growth and an important diplomatic responsibility for a National Capital.
“With a small domestic market, our economic development and employment growth relies on exporting to relevant global markets.
“We want to position Canberra as a hub for education, innovation, renewable energy, and services exports – sectors that are among the fastest-growing in the ACT economy.
“This Budget ensures we keep building on our strengths and seizing the opportunities that international engagement provides – for our economy, our community, and our future.”
- Statement ends -
Andrew Barr, MLA | Media Releases