KEECH LAUNCHES MACKAY WHITSUNDAY TOURISM BLUEPRINT

Tourism Minister Margaret Keech today launched a blueprint for the sustainable development of tourism in the Mackay/Whitsunday region over the next decade.

Mrs Keech said the Mackay Whitsunday Regional Tourism Investment and Infrastructure Plan (RTIIP) was the first of 10 to be unveiled across Queensland.

“Among other things, the RTIIP aims to identify tourism investment opportunities; identify infrastructure constraints and requirements; and to provide a focal document for the development of tourism in the region,” she said.

“The RTIIP has been prepared after consultation with government agencies, industry operators, developers and investors.

“These plans are further outcomes from the Beattie Government’s $48 million Queensland Tourism Strategy (QTS).”

Mrs Keech said the plan set a clear path for the future of the industry in one of the most beautiful regions in the world.

“We believe the Whitsunday tourism region has the potential to become a significant destination for inbound and interstate, primarily leisure, visitor markets,” she said.

“We are also convinced that the Mackay region has the potential to become a significant destination for intrastate and interstate leisure and business markets.

“In order that the regions reach their potential, they need to identify and develop their senses of uniqueness, especially in their built environments.

“Investment in new and enhanced infrastructure will be required and extra effort will need to be paid to ensuring there is an appropriate mix of tourism product available to visitors.”

Mrs Keech said the RTIIP identified more than 70 investment opportunities. Six of those were classified as catalyst projects – those that needed to be pursued to trigger the implementation of others.

The six catalyst projects are:

• developing a tourism precinct along the Mackay riverfront;
• developing a tourism node at Eungella (EungellaNational Park and PioneerValley);
• developing a mainland gateway to the Whitsunday region;
• developing AirlieBeach and ShuteHarbour;
• enhancing the built environment of the Whitsundays islands; and
• developing the Bowen waterfront.

Mrs Keech said the next step was for the Mackay and Whitsundays regions to work together to improve visitor growth, lengthen tourist stay and improve visitor yields.

Media contacts: Jo Gibbons 0439 761 416 or David Smith 3225 1005