The Economic Significance of the Australian Alpine Resorts Project

The summary report of a major economic significance study of the Australian Alpine Resorts was released at the Opening of the 2006 Ski Season in Victoria and NSW. The full report is now also available.

The report is the culmination of an 18 month process involving surveys covering some 20,000 visitors, employees and businesses.

This major national study found vast economic benefit flowing from Victoria's Alpine resorts to regional economies. The Victorian alpine resorts are now known to be a half a billion dollar industry attracting some 1.3 million visitor days in winter alone. Almost 10,000 people are employed over winter, with most of these being regional jobs.

The net annual additional contribution to the economies of the resorts' local shires was calculated as follows:

• Alpine Shire - $106 million - representing 20 per cent of its gross product
• Mansfield and Benalla Shires (combined) - $49 million
• Murrundindi Shire - $7.3 million
• Baw Baw Shire - $7 million
• East Gippsland Shire - $25 million

The study looked at the economic benefit of both the summer and winter seasons. For Victoria, the summer benefit was found to be 40 per cent of the winter season benefit.

As well as the Victorian figures, for the first time a national picture emerged, with the combined benefit for the three Australian States with alpine resorts in 2005 calculated to be $1.3 billion with 17,050 annual equivalent employment opportunities.

The study was co-ordinated by the Alpine Resorts Co-ordinating Council and undertaken by the National Institute of Economic and Industry Research (NIEIR). It was carried out in partnership with the Australian Ski Areas Association (representing the private lift companies) , the NSW Department of Environment and Conservation, the NSW Department of Planning, Parks Victoria, the Victorian Alpine Resort Management Boards and the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment.

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