News this week: The Exhibition
and Events Association of Australasia (EEAA) will seek additional funding
from the State Government of Victoria for
the expansion of the Melbourne Convention and
Exhibition Centre (MCEC). The EEAA has been critical of the state’s latest
budget plan, which overlooked funding for the exhibition industry.
Industry players hoped
the US$1 billion redevelopment of Darling Harbour in Sydney, which includes
40,000 m2 of exhibition space, would spur further expansion
activities. According to the EEAA, expanding the MCEC will increase business
tourism spend by an additional US$151 million. EEAA reports that a total of
11,000 exhibitors participated in 361 exhibitions held across Australia in the
second half of 2011, of which 17% took place in Victoria and 36% in New South Wales.
Joyce DiMascio, general
manager of EEAA, was quoted saying, “The industry has been advocating support
for this vital piece of infrastructure but the tight budget has favoured other
urban and regional initiatives. We understand that the Government does support
the expansion of exhibition facilities but due to pressure to fund other
programs, it would appear we must still continue to build the case for
investing in this crucial piece of events infrastructure.”
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