State funds program for new Queensland wine tourism experiences

The Palaszczuk Government will jointly fund a project to develop and market a series of Queensland wine “cellar door” experiences after the Australian Government promised to match the state’s $220,000 funding commitment.

Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones first allocated $220,000 for the initiative in July – before the Federal Government this week confirmed the Commonwealth would match funding dollar-for-dollar.

“This grant provides dollar-for-dollar support and follows the state government’s $220,000 commitment and the Queensland Wine Industry Association’s $10,000 investment,” she said.

“This $460,000 funding package will assist the QWIA in its efforts to better promote Queensland’s award-winning and unique wines to our international visitors.

“We know the latest generation of tourists are looking for unique experiences.

“This grant will help Queensland wineries, the majority of which are small family-owned businesses to develop authentic cellar door experiences.

QWIA president Mike Hayes said both the Queensland and Australian governments needed to be congratulated for this support.

“It is this type of unity which will help propel the Queensland wine industry in the 21st century,” he said.

“Our state industry while it is small is no longer the poor cousins of the Australian wine industry.

“We now have truly come of age and are being taken seriously on both the national and international markets.

“And while we may be small of stature our wine industry is certainly making a mighty roar.

“This funding will help promote our serious wine producers and take us even further into the national and export markets.”

Mr Hayes said the QWIA is working with other parties to boost the funding package and further announcements could be made shortly.

The International Wine Tourism State Grants program is part of the Australian Government’s $50 million Export and Regional Wine Support Package.

The State Grants program is being delivered by Wine Australia for wine producing sales and is a restricted, non-competitive grant.

Wine Australia identified the QWIA as the eligible applicant for Queensland and QWIA can apply for up to $500 000 (exclusive GST) in matched funding from Wine Australia.

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