To enhance the economic and social contribution to Tasmania from tourism,sport,recreation and racing activities. The Department was created, as part of a general reorganisation of the State Service, by amalgamating the Department of Tourism with the Department of Sport and Recreation. In a further stage of the reorganisation, on 1 July 1990, the Licensing Board and the Tasmanian Racing Directorate were amalgamated with the Department. The Directorate was restructured as an Authority shortly afterwards. On 17 February 1992, following a change of Government, racing and gaming became the responsibility of the Minister for Construction, although racing was returned to the Tourism portfolio on 3 February 1993. On 27 March 1996 the Department was dismembered, Tourism again becoming an agency in its own right. The Licensing Board was transferred to the Deaprtment of Treasury and Finance, the Major Events Unit to Tasmania Development and Resources, Sport and Recreation to the Department of Education, Community and Cultural Development, as was the Office of the Status of Women, except for the Office of the Sex Discrimination Commissioner which went to the department of Justice, and the Office of Antarctic Affairs went to the Department of Environment and Land Management.