Tourism Australia’s Business Events Bid Fund Program to be Extended

This week Tourism Australia is leading Team Australia’s participation at IMEX Frankfurt, a key trade show for attracting international planners from the global business events industry. 

Tourism Australia’s Business Events Bid Fund Program is designed to increase the conversion of new international business events for Australia by offering financial support at the critical bidding stage. 

Tourism Australia will use its presence at IMEX 2026 to confirm it will extend the Bid Fund Program into future years (see further details below). 

The Bid Fund Program is available for bids where Australia is competing against international destinations for association congresses and conferences, corporate incentives or meetings, and exhibitions. 

The Bid Fund Program delivers a significant 52-to-1 return on investment and has supported major global wins for Australia. 

Since its inception (2018) the Bid Fund Program has produced excellent results to date, securing 221 bid wins worth $1.5 billion to the Australian economy. 

Applications are now open for event bids where international decision dates are prior to 30 June 2027, and travel is completed by 31 December 2032. 

This extension is good news for event planners who are bidding to secure new international business events for 2030 and beyond. 

Upcoming BFP supported events across a variety of key industry sectors include: the International Federation of Fertility Societies World Congress (IFFS 2027) in Brisbane, April 2027 (worth $11m), International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS) in Sydney, October 2028 (worth $27.7m) and World Conference on Lung Cancer in Melbourne, September 2029 (worth $34m).

In the calendar year 2025:

• Australia has welcomed over 730,000 international Business Events visitors;
• On average Business Events visitors outspend leisure travellers by 55%;
• Business Events visitors support our regional economy with nearly 20% of that spend taking place in our regional destinations;
• Business Events visitors’ spend is significant – the international Business Events sector contributed $3.96 billion in economic value to the Australian economy in 2025.

Quotes attributable to the Minister for Trade and Tourism, Don Farrell

“The Australian tourism industry is one of Australia’s crown jewels, supporting around 730,000 jobs and 360,000 businesses.” 

“Business events and their attendees are a key feature of the industry; these delegates outspend leisure travellers by 55% per night, pumping $3.96 billion into the tourism industry annually. 

“The Bid Fund works, and we’re keeping that momentum going. By extending support for events out to 2032, we’re giving planners the long-term certainty they need to choose Australia for years to come.” 

Quotes attributable to Tourism Australia Managing Director, Robin Mack 

“Tourism Australia values the positive impact of the Business Events Bid Fund Program to drive visitation to Australia and to support the Australian industry to bid on longer lead opportunities. 

“We have made a strategic decision to maintain momentum and extend the Bid Fund Program to support events travelling to Australia out to December 2032.” 

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