The Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) has formally lodged its 2026–27 State Budget Submission, outlining targeted, practical measures to strengthen the state’s $34.1 billion visitor economy and ensure Queensland is positioned to maximise the opportunities of Brisbane 2032 and Destination 2045.

The submission focuses on six critical enablers identified through consultation with operators, destination organisations and peak bodies across metropolitan, regional and remote Queensland: reducing the cost of doing business, improving transport and access infrastructure, strengthening workforce supply, accelerating tourism product development, embedding First Nations tourism and lifting regional governance capability.

QTIC CEO Natassia Wheeler said the submission builds on the Queensland Government’s long-term tourism strategy and recent funding commitments, while identifying the practical interventions required to convert investment into measurable outcomes ahead of 2032.

“Tourism supports one in every twelve Queensland jobs and underpins regional communities across the state,” Wheeler said.

“With less than six years until Brisbane 2032, the focus must now shift to removing barriers that constrain growth – from insurance pressures and workforce shortages to access and enabling infrastructure.”

A key priority in the submission is immediate cost-of-doing-business relief, including the removal of Queensland stamp duty on insurance premiums for tourism and events businesses and the establishment of a targeted premium relief program for small and medium operators.

QTIC has also called for a stronger shift toward pre-disaster mitigation funding to reduce long-term fiscal exposure, alongside expanded investment in intrastate aviation, last-mile connectivity and enabling infrastructure to support regional dispersal and workforce access.

Workforce remains a structural constraint on growth. The submission calls for a coordinated, statewide tourism workforce pipeline, place-based housing and mobility solutions in priority regions, and strengthened alignment between state initiatives and Commonwealth migration settings.

“Tourism cannot grow without people,” Wheeler said.

“Training is critical, but it must be matched with housing, mobility and clear career pathways if we are to stabilise labour supply and improve productivity across the sector.”

QTIC is also seeking expanded tourism infrastructure funding to accelerate delivery of investment-ready projects before 2032, sustained support for First Nations-led tourism development under the Queensland First Nations Tourism Strategy 2026–2032, and a modest $109,200 investment to strengthen leadership and governance capability across the regional tourism system.

“These are targeted, fiscally responsible measures designed to reduce risk, strengthen delivery capability and maximise the return on government investment,” Wheeler said.

“By addressing insurance exposure, workforce stability, access constraints and regional capacity in a coordinated way, Queensland can build a more resilient, productive and inclusive visitor economy that delivers long-term legacy.”

The State Budget submission follows QTIC’s recent 2026–27 Federal Budget submission to the Australian Government, which similarly highlighted insurance reform, workforce supply, aviation access and First Nations tourism as national priorities in the lead-up to Brisbane 2032.

“Queensland’s visitor economy is both a state and national asset,” Wheeler said.

“Both levels of government have a role to play. The next few budgets, state and federal, will determine whether we fully capture the economic and legacy dividend of 2032.”

QTIC’s full 2026–27 State Budget Submission was lodged in January and February 2026.

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