VISITOR PROFILES TO BOOST TNQ APPEAL

The Beattie Government is to fund research to help position the Tropical North in domestic and international tourism markets.

Tourism Minister Margaret Keech today said new tourism opportunities would be identified and the region promoted as a unique tourism destination.

“A special $75,000 funding allocation to Tourism Tropical North Queensland will really help position the industry in this region for the future,” Mr Beattie said.

“The grant will allow Tourism Tropical North Queensland to complete Destination Visitor Surveys (DVS).

“The Atherton Tablelands, Cairns/Cairns beaches and Port Douglas/Daintree regions offer very different tourism experiences and this funding will allow each area to maximise its appeal through the creation of visitor profiles.

“The profiles will identify aspects of visitor behaviour, measure visitor expectations and satisfaction and investigate visitor trends and patterns within the region.

”This will enable the region to position destinations and experiences specifically for target markets, encourage product development and provide market intelligence to local tourism operators.”

Mrs Keech said the grant was part of an extra $1 million a year provided for Regional Tourism Organisations (RTOs) under the $48 million Queensland Tourism Strategy.

“I congratulate Tourism Tropical North Queensland (TTNQ) on a funding submission based on developing local tourism experiences,” she said.

“This initial funding will be invested by TTNQ in undertaking the visitor surveys ($45,000), implementing new reporting tools ($10,000) as well as conducting feasibility studies into alternative funding sources ($20,000) for the region’s tourism industry.

“Implementation of a new industry reporting tool will boost the accuracy of information on accommodation occupancy and tour and attraction patronage levels, greatly increasing the region’s ability to highlight local issues and planning certainty.”

Tourism Tropical North Queensland CEO Rob Giason said increased investment by the State Government in Tropical North Queensland was necessary to maintain the region’s successful growth.

“Tropical North Queensland is home to some of the world’s best natural tourism experiences and quality tourism operators,” Mr Giason said.

“The increased financial and resource support from the State Government’s Queensland Tourism Strategy will allow Tourism Tropical North Queensland to increase development of the local industry through strategic planning and private sector investment.”

The TTNQ project should be completed by October this year.

Mrs Keech said the QTS was a key election promise to secure the economic, environmental and social sustainability of the State’s tourism industry.

“This grant is part of a $4 million funding boost over four years to help Regional Tourism Organisations implement the QTS,’’ she said.

“The State Government’s new $6.5 million ‘Where Else But Queensland’ television campaign that was officially launched into southern markets last weekend and is another outcome of the QTS, will play an important support role in promoting our wonderful tourism experiences.

“The State Government has also invested more than $2 million in developing the new Tropical North Queensland brand and promotional campaign that complements the Where Else campaign.

“These initiatives are just the start of the many ongoing benefits that will be seen by the industry under the Beattie Government’s tourism strategy.”

For more information on the Queensland Tourism Strategy visit www.qldtourismstrategy.com.au

Media contacts: Jo Gibbons 3224 2007 or David Smith 3225 1005 / 0409 496 534