The Hon Martin Ferguson MP, Minister for Tourism and Chris Trevor, Member for Flynn, have announced Budget funding of $100,000 to enhance central Queensland's tourism gemstone attractions.
The funding provides for Tourism Queensland to develop a feasibility study and implementation plan focusing on the natural geo-tourism attractions of the Rubyvale region.
Minister Ferguson said: "This announcement will help assist central Queensland to determine the region's potential to increase tourism visitations to the gemstone attractions of the region.
"This project will enhance the region's reputation for its sapphire gem fields which include the largest deposit in the Southern Hemisphere.
"Development of this geo-tourism market provides an opportunity for the region to diversify its tourism product and boost its economic sustainability.
"Australia's tourism is closely connected to its geology and landscape - just look at the Great Barrier Reef or Uluru – so it is understandable that more and more people are interested in Central Queensland's gem-fields and that we are seeing the emergence of the geo-tourism market in this area."
Chris Trevor said: "Currently the Fitzroy tourism region (which includes Emerald) attracts around two million day trips per year with day visitors spending $246 million in the Fitzroy tourism region annually. This equates to $123 per visitor per day trip.
"Traditionally the region has sourced in-bound tourists from Asia and particularly Japan, which has declined in recent years due to changing consumer trends and the high Australian dollar.
"Diversification of tourism products makes good business sense and there is enormous scope to tap into the geo-tourism attractions of the Rubyvale region," he said.
Media contact: Michael Bradley – 0420 371 744