Planning hurdles are raising the cost of new hotel developments vital to Australia's surging tourism sector, according to a report released today by Trade and Investment Minister Andrew Robb and new Tourism and International Education Minister Senator Richard Colbeck.
Commissioned by Austrade from planning consultancy Urbis, the report Hotel Development Regulations in Australia identifies opportunities to improve planning and environmental approval processes across all states and territories, including in regional areas.
The report finds overly complex planning regulations cause significant delays and uncertainty for hotel developments, and recommends that federal, state, territory and local governments work together to promote simplicity, transparency and predictability in all state and territory jurisdictions.
- Media release: Report finds room for improvement in hotel development approvals
- Copies of the report are available on the Austrade website.