Tasmania is getting ready to rev its engines, with the announcement that the Tasmanian Liberal Government has secured a spot on the Australian Rally Championship calendar for the next five years.
The Tasmanian Government, through Events Tasmania, is investing $500,000 across the five years to host an annual round of the CAMS Australian Rally Championship (ARC) in the North of the State.
ARC is an established national series of motor sport events, with rounds expected to be held in four other states as well as Tasmania in 2018.
The Tasmanian Liberal Government is a strong supporter of major sports events like Targa Tasmania, the V8 Supercars and now the CAMS Australian Rally Championships, with the State continuing to reap the major tourism and economic benefits.
This event alone is expected to inject millions of dollars into the regional economy over the span of the five year contract.
The rally will be staged in Launceston in July, with the four day winter event attracting all the major factory teams, their entourages and support crews as well as spectators to our region. With the North home to great food, wine and tourism experiences this event will encourage all visitors, to explore the region and wider Tasmania.
Winter has traditionally been a quieter time for tourists, however this major motorsport event will boost Tasmania’s winter appeal and add to our reputation as a year round destination.
It is expected, based on events elsewhere, that an extra two and a half thousand bed nights in the Launceston region for the duration of the championship will be enjoyed by the northern economy.
Not only that, but Northern Tasmania will be thrust into the nations tv spotlight, with CAMS announcing it will produce a tv show set to air on Foxsports that will showcase local tourism hotspots.
The Government has a target of attracting 1.5 million visitors to Tasmania each year by 2020, and the global exposure an event such as this provides will assist us to achieve this goal, while also providing more reasons for visitors to stay longer in our regional areas and see more of our state.
