MARTIN FERGUSON
Minister for Tourism
Minister for Resources and Energy
JAN McLUCAS
Senator for Queensland
JAN JARRATT
Minister for Tourism
Minister for Manufacturing and Small Business
Two hundred Queensland tourism operators will set off from Brisbane today on a Queensland on Tour road show through New South Wales and Victoria as part of the joint Federal and State Governments’ $12 million tourism recovery funding package.
Federal Tourism Minister Martin Ferguson and Queensland Minister for Tourism Jan Jarratt said the five day interstate road show would enable Queensland tourism businesses to personally deliver the message that Nothing Beats Queensland for a holiday.
“The Queensland on Tour road show will roll into towns from Ballina to Bendigo and Wagga Wagga through to Wollongong personally promoting a range of Queensland holiday deals and giveaways,” Minister Ferguson said.
“The 200 tourism operators represent the 14 regions of Queensland and include business owners and marketing or sales managers from some of Queensland’s largest hotels, through to smaller B&Bs and family-run tour companies.
“Surf schools from the Gold Coast, wineries from Toowoomba, whale watching companies from the Fraser Coast, sailing businesses in the Whitsundays, island resorts from the Tropical North and iconic Outback attractions are just some of the tourism businesses on the road show,” Minister Ferguson said.
“It’s a great opportunity for those who live and work in Queensland’s tourism industry to tell visitors that Nothing Beats Queensland,” said Senator Jan McLucas, who represented the Australian Government at the Brisbane launch event.
“Images of flood and cyclone affected Queensland communities were beamed across Australia just a few months ago, so it is critical we continue to show that we’re open for business and are welcoming visitors,” Senator McLucas said.
“Queensland is one of Australia’s favourite holiday spots and as temperatures in the southern states continue to drop, the road show will arrive in regional centres in New South Wales and Victoria and encourage people to head north to take advantage of Queensland’s warmer winters.”
Senator McLucas said the road show is a recovery initiative that was open to businesses from all sectors of the industry and will help connect participants with a network of interstate trade contacts, media and potential visitors.
The group converged on Brisbane today to interact with travel agents and potential visitors.
“Queensland on Tour is an important component of the overall Nothing Beats Queensland recovery strategy, designed to personally deliver the message to book a Queensland holiday now to support the 115,000 tourism-related businesses in Queensland,” Ms Jarratt said.
“Four separate groups will depart Brisbane, criss-crossing New South Wales and Victoria to reinforce the message that Nothing Beats Queensland and encouraging people along the way to book a Queensland holiday,” Ms Jarratt said.
“This Queensland on Tour road show will take Queenslanders to our potential holidaymakers and tell them in person that Queensland’s tourism destinations have recovered from the floods and cyclones and we’re ready to welcome them with open arms,” Ms Jarratt said.
“The domestic visitor market for Queensland is the state’s bread and butter with Queensland annually welcoming 16.6 million domestic visitors who spend around $11.5 billion during their visits.
“In recent months Tourism Australia and Tourism Queensland have been working hard to spread the message far and wide that Queensland is open for business and those efforts seem to be working, with operators on the Gold Coast, Townsville and Magnetic Island reporting strong Easter trading,” Minister Ferguson said.