QUEENSLAND’S GREAT TROPICAL DRIVE GOLD CLASS!

Queensland continues to be recognised as a world leader in tourism experiences with the Great Tropical Drive receiving a 2007 Pacific Asia Travel Association Gold Award, Tourism Minister Margaret Keech said today.

Mrs Keech congratulated everyone involved in making the Great Tropical Drive a world-class experience.

“This international award is more than just a result of clever marketing or advertising; it’s a tribute to the high degree of cooperation invested by industry representatives across the two regions to produce a quality tourist attraction,” Mrs Keech said.

“The 2007 Pacific Asia Travel Association Awards had 132 organisations submit 339 entries, making this success even more wonderful.

“Townsville Enterprise Limited and Tourism Tropical North Queensland have worked closely with government and industry to produce tourism experiences that have made Queensland the leading Australia’s leading tourism destination.

“It takes a high level of cooperation to produce a drive tourism program that involves multiple regional tourism organisations and covers experiences such as the Great Barrier Reef, tropical islands, rainforests and the outback.”

The Great Tropical Drive traverses a circle through some of Australia’s most beautiful scenery, from Cooktown down through Cairns and Townsville before heading inland through Charters Towers and up to the Atherton Tableland, then back to Cooktown.

Mrs Keech said the Queensland Government continues to support the work being undertaken in the destinations through strategic long-term planning and investment.

“The Queensland Government is dedicated to ensuring the long-term prosperity of regions such as Townsville North Queensland and Tropical North Queensland,” she said.

“Under the Government’s Queensland Tourism Strategy strategic private and public sector partnerships will be encouraged to ensure the tourism industry’s economic, environmental and social sustainability.”

Media contact:        Peter McCarthy 3225 1005