The independent chairman of the Business Events Council of Australia (BECA), Matt Hingerty, has called on the business events industry to take part in the major study of the sector being undertaken by Ernst and Young (EY).

The study, funded by both industry and the Federal Government, is the first major study of the sector undertaken since 2005.

Hingerty said, “Often lumped together with the leisure tourism sector, we have often found ourselves unappreciated for the direct and indirect contribution we make to the Australian economy.

“That is all starting to change.  I can say that the movement of the Tourism portfolio to the Trade Minister, Andrew Robb, has been a big plus for us.

“The Minister, and his Department, understands that we provide the platform – the infrastructure – that underpins so much of Australia’s trade performance.

“All parties agree that to make good decisions to build our industry, and keep it as a centerpiece of our international trade effort, we need good data.

EY started contacting industry last week regarding the research that will be completed in early 2015.