ARTN - History

The ARTN was established as an unincorporated organisation in 2001 following the collapse of the national industry peak body Tourism Council Australia (TCA). The effectiveness of the TCA Regional Committee as a forum and network for the advancement of regional tourism was such that the members of the Committee agreed to continue its work and established the Australian Regional Tourism Network (ARTN).

Since the early 1990s TCA had auspiced a Regional Tourism Policy sub-committee which as part of its activities held an Annual Regional Tourism Conference (ARTC). This convention is still run today by the ARTN and is Australian regional tourism’s largest event.

A further key initiative of the committee was supporting the establishment of the Centre for Regional Tourism Research (CRTR), now known as the Australian Regional Tourism Research Centre (ARTRC) at Southern Cross University. The ARTRC has become Australia’s largest and most esteemed regional tourism research centre.

The ARTN steering committee has representatives from each State and Territory tourism commission, the Commonwealth Department of Industry, Science and Tourism, regional tourism organisations, plus representatives of national organisations with particular interest in regional tourism, (e.g. Tourism Australia , Aboriginal Tourism Australia (ATA), the TTF Australia (Tourism & Transport Forum), the Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) and Ecotourism Australia.

The Network identifies issues and opportunities for the development of regional tourism and is available to provide information and assistance to any industry organisation with interests in furthering the development of regional tourism in Australia.

The Network is firmly of the view that regional tourism offers great opportunity for development across Australia and is particularly interested in the dispersal of visitation to regional Australian destinations.

Regional tourism has enormous potential to contribute to the economic, social and environmental sustainability of regional Australia. The ARTN has a unique structure representing all State and Territory, public and private sector interests, and its regional forum brings together regional tourism organisations from across Australia providing an unparalleled opportunity for focused and effective consultation.