Oh dear, the Federal Minister for Tourism, Jackie Kelly, has upset the ACT Chief Minister, Kate Carnell, because the Australian Tourism Commission omitted any scene of Canberra in 40 30-second television advertisements to be shown overseas to attract tourists.
And ACT Opposition tourism spokesman Wayne Berry has called it a disgrace, demanding to know, “”Why didn’t Kate Carnell check with her federal colleague to ensure that the ACT featured?”
The answer to Mr Berry’s question is easy: because the chief minister has got better things to do.
And the answer to Mrs Carnell’s criticism is: must the ACT sink to the levels of petty regionalism displayed by Jeff Kennett and Peter Beattie.
And Ms Kelly should not have taken the bait by admitting, “”It does appear to be an omission.”
The object of the ATC’s television campaign into the US and Europe surely is to get bums on aircraft seats and tourists into Australia. At best, television conveys an emotional image that says little more than: “”Australia. Good Feeling. Must travel there one day.”
So the television images need not portray the national capital if that will not help tourism. Scenes of coastline, farm stays, the bush and geological features can come from any state or territory. And anyway, city scenes would have less appeal in the US and Europe. Their tourists want to get away from cities.
Crafting policies and campaigns around state borders is counter-productive.
It would be an omission if the ATC ignored Canberra in its detailed work with travel agents, travel writers and the like. It would be an omission if the ATC ignored Canberra in detailed print matter given to tourists once they have signed up, but there is no suggestion of that.
The ATC’s job is to market Australia. People in Canberra, the national capital, of all people, should be above petty regional squabbles. Some oil should be poured on this troubled tea-cup storm.