What is the “Ministry of Tourism” in Australia?

Australia doesn’t have a single, standalone federal “Ministry of Tourism” like some countries. Instead, tourism responsibilities are split across a government agency (Tourism Australia), a policy office (within Austrade), and a minister (Minister for Trade and Tourism), with additional tourism ministers at each state and territory level.

Quick answer

  • No federal “Ministry of Tourism” : There is no current department called “Ministry of Tourism” at the national level.
  • Main national body : Tourism Australia is the government agency that promotes Australia internationally and domestically.
  • Policy & strategy: The Office of Tourism and the Visitor Economy inside the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) leads tourism policy and runs the national strategy THRIVE 2030.
  • Leadership : Tourism matters report to the Minister for Trade and Tourism (currently Don Farrell).

How tourism is organised in Australia

1. Tourism Australia – the marketing arm

Tourism Australia is the Australian Government agency responsible for:

  • Promoting Australia as a travel destination for leisure and business visitors.
  • Influencing international and domestic travel decisions.
  • Supporting a sustainable tourism industry and generating economic benefits.

It is a corporate portfolio agency of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and works closely with Austrade and state/territory tourism organisations.

Key facts:

  • Formed: 23 June 2004 (merged from earlier bodies like the Australian Tourist Commission).
  • Headquartered: Sydney.
  • Managing director: Phillipa Harrison.
  • Minister responsible: Don Farrell, Minister for Trade and Tourism.

2. Austrade – policy, strategy and grants

Within Austrade (Australian Trade and Investment Commission), the Office of Tourism and the Visitor Economy :

  • Leads development of national tourism policy.
  • Oversees THRIVE 2030 (The Re-Imagined Visitor Economy), the national visitor economy strategy.
  • Manages grant programs and initiatives for the tourism sector.
  • Provides official tourism statistics and research.

Both Austrade and Tourism Australia are part of the Foreign Affairs and Trade Portfolio , and both report to the Minister for Trade and Tourism.

3. Minister for Trade and Tourism

At the federal level, the minister with primary responsibility for tourism is the Minister for Trade and Tourism. Current portfolio responsibilities include:

  • Trade and investment policy.
  • Tourism strategy and international marketing oversight.
  • Coordination between Austrade, Tourism Australia, and state/territory bodies.

There is no separate “Minister for Tourism” at the federal level in the current structure; tourism is embedded in the trade and tourism portfolio.

State and territory tourism ministers

Each Australian state and territory has its own tourism minister and tourism organisation, for example:

  • Victoria : Minister for Tourism (currently Natalie Suleyman MP) and state tourism body.
  • Other states/territories (NSW, Queensland, WA, SA, Tasmania, ACT, NT) similarly have dedicated tourism ministers and marketing agencies.

These state/territory bodies often work with Tourism Australia but focus on regional marketing, infrastructure, and local policy.

Historical note: Did Australia ever have a “Department of Tourism”?

Yes, but only briefly:

  • The Department of Tourism existed as a federal government department from December 1991 to March 1996 under the Keating government.
  • It was a small “mini-department” with fewer than 40 staff.
  • After the 1996 election, the Howard government dismantled it and moved its functions into the Department of Industry, Science and Tourism.

Since then, there has been no standalone federal “Department of Tourism” or “Ministry of Tourism”.

What people often mean by “Ministry of Tourism” in Australia

When people ask about the “Ministry of Tourism in Australia”, they usually mean:

  • Tourism Australia – the name they see on campaigns, websites, and ads.
  • The Minister for Trade and Tourism – the politician in charge at the federal level.
  • The Office of Tourism and the Visitor Economy within Austrade – the policy and strategy side.
Entity Role Portfolio / Minister
Tourism Australia International and domestic marketing, campaigns, ambassador programs Foreign Affairs and Trade Portfolio; Minister for Trade and Tourism
Austrade – Office of Tourism and the Visitor Economy Tourism policy, THRIVE 2030 strategy, grants, statistics Foreign Affairs and Trade Portfolio; Minister for Trade and Tourism
State/territory tourism ministers & agencies Regional marketing, local infrastructure, state-specific policy Respective state/territory governments

Current context (2025–2026)

As of 2025–2026:

  • Tourism Australia is running global campaigns like “Come and Say G’day” and its second chapter featuring Robert Irwin, with a focus on rebuilding post‑COVID demand.
  • THRIVE 2030 remains the central national strategy, aiming to return international and domestic spend to pre‑pandemic levels and grow to $230 billion by 2030.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.