SYDNEY – The tourism industry has applauded the appointment of Andrew McEvoy as managing director of Tourism Australia.

McEvoy is currently chief executive of the South Australian Tourism Commission, and is a former Tourism Australia executive.

He has also held senior management positions with the Melbourne Convention Bureau and Ballarat Tourism.

The Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) managing director Matt Hingerty said McEvoy was an excellent selection, “highlighting his wealth of experience acquired over 15 years in roles at Tourism Australia and SATC, as well as great understanding of the issues surrounding the Australian tourism industry, as making him a natural fit for the role”.

Tourism & Transport Forum (TTF) managing director, Christopher Brown said the appointment had widespread industry support.

“The tourism industry is looking forward to the prospect of Andrew heading up Tourism Australia, to provide the leadership it needs to take the organisation forward and boost tourism,” Brown said.

“The appointment of Tourism Australia’s new MD has been a long time coming and occurs at a crucial time as the tourism industry battles the impacts of the global financial crisis, contends with widespread job losses and awaits the release of the Federal Government’s National Long-term Tourism Strategy.

“The most obvious issue at present is that tourism desperately needs leadership at the Federal level. Andrew is a strong leader who will help Tourism Australia regain its confidence, its authority and its momentum.

“Importantly, his track record in South Australia shows that he understands that great marketing is not enough to ensure tourism success and that an agency must impose itself on the supply-side issues of investment, transport access and skills.”

McEvoy will take up his role at Tourism Australia in January 2010.