The ACT 2024–25 Budget will build international business and trade connections and grow the local tourism industry, making it easier for international visitors to come to the nation’s capital, Chief Minister Andrew Barr announced.

Cheaper plane flights to Canberra are a priority; continued investment in the Aviation Stimulus Fund will attract more direct domestic and international flights to and from Canberra, Mr Barr said. In 2023, this fund generated $95 million for the ACT.

The USA is the ACT’s strongest international visitor market, and a growth market for many Canberra businesses.  Building on last year’s trade mission, Budget investment will grow opportunities in the United States for the ACT’s tourism, trade and business sectors.

Funding will also increase tourism from China, a key market that has not yet returned to pre-COVID levels, and from Singapore, South-East Asia, and India.

The Budget will support the many Canberra‑based businesses with connections to these international markets, and help businesses to enter these markets, Mr Barr said. 

Budget funding will bring the British and Irish Lions Tour (the biggest rugby union event outside the Rugby World Cup) to Canberra on 9 July 2025 for a match against the ACT Brumbies (a local team).

More than $900,000 will be spent to improve signs, including in parks and nature reserves, which attract many visitors each year. Entrance signs along the Barton Highway will be upgraded, as well as wayfinding and other signs for Floriade and the Enlighten Festival.

The Government will continue its sponsorship of the Canberra Region Tourism Awards, an avenue for national recognition of the ACT’s tourism sector and which raises Canberra’s profile as a tourist destination.

The Brand Canberra program will continue to promote Canberra as a great place to live, work, and study.

“A thriving and expanding tourism sector is driving Canberra’s ongoing economic growth,” Mr Barr said. “The industry supports thousands of local businesses and tens of thousands of jobs.

“This Budget supports the growth of Canberra’s international connectivity and the visitor economy and sector wide job creation.

“These initiatives will continue to promote Canberra as a tourism, trade and business destination.”

Greg Harford, CEO of the Canberra Business Chamber, said: “The visitor and events sectors make up an important part of the Canberra economy, and the Canberra Business Chamber welcomes continued support for these sectors. We look forward to seeing the detail released in the Budget next week.

“However, economic conditions are challenging at the moment, and we also hope to see initiatives in the Budget to see reductions in red tape and compliance costs across the ACT.”