Whale watching season starts with a song

Published Friday, 06 June, 2014 at 08:12 AM

Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and the Commonwealth Games
The Honourable Jann Stuckey

Hundreds of primary school children will be serenading at popular spots along the Queensland coast as the whale watching season gets underway today.

Tourism Minister Jann Stuckey said thechildren’s ‘Welcoming of the Whales’ ceremonies were being staged simultaneously from the Gold Coast right up to Tropical North Queensland.

“This is the second year the event has been staged, celebrating the annual Queensland whale watching season, which runs from July to November each year,” Ms Stuckey said.

“The season boosts coastal tourism as well as local small businesses and this campaign delivers on our election promise to grow the industry as one of the four pillars of the economy.

“It gives visitors an opportunity to get up close with the southern hemisphere’s humpback whale population as they journey north from Antarctica along the Queensland ‘whale trail’, before heading south in the spring.

“The Government’s 20-year plan for tourism, Destination Success, recognises the importance of seasonal events like this that drive repeat visitors to regional destinations, creating jobs now and into the future.

“Whale watching activities support our goal of growing overnight visitor expenditure from $15 billion to $30 billion by 2020 and growing the sector where it was ignored and neglected by Labor.”

Ms Stuckey said the launch coincided with National Whale Day on 7 June and formed part of a major push by Tourism and Events Queensland to promote whale watching experiences throughout the state.

“TEQ will work in partnership with Fraser Coast Opportunities and Fraser Coast tourism operators on a campaign focused on encouraging south-east Queenslanders to migrate to Australia’s whale-watching capital – Hervey Bay, and experience the natural encounter first hand this season,” she said.

“The campaign will incorporate television, bus, cinemas and digital advertising as well as social media, publicity and educational activities, featuring real footage of the Hervey Bay whale-watching experience on the campaign website www.whalesherveybay.com.au.”

Ms Stuckey said the Newman Government had a strong plan for a brighter future and campaigns like this enabled industry and small business to maximise the benefits of Queensland’s whale watching season.

General Manager of Fraser Coast Opportunities, David Spear said operators were already reporting strong early bookings for the upcoming season proving a positive sign of things to come.

“New whale watching vessels will be added to the Hervey Bay whale watching fleet this year which is a strong sign of confidence in not only the whale watching sector, but in Fraser Coast tourism in general,” Mr Spear said.

To find out more about Queensland whale season visit – www.queensland.com

[ENDS] 6 June 2014

Media Contact/s: Minister Stuckey’s office: 3719 7240 / 0439 291 268

Tourism and Events Queensland: 3535 5840