Published Thursday, 06 September, 2007 at 09:48 AM
Minister for Tourism, Fair Trading, Wine Industry Development and Women
The Honourable Margaret Keech
TOURISTS ENCOURAGED TO SPOILER THEMSELVES AT INDY
A $100,000 Gold Coast Lexmark Indy 300 advertising campaign is encouraging Sydney and Melbourne residents to rev their engines and ‘power on’ in Queensland, Tourism Minister, Margaret Keech, announced today.
Mrs Keech said the campaign focused on extending the amount of time visitors stay during the Indy event, while encouraging them to participate in the full range of experiences offered on the Gold Coast.
“The Gold Coast Lexmark Indy 300 carnival attracts more than 300,000 people who stay more than 173,000 visitor nights and spend in excess of $50 million,” Mrs Keech said.
“The advertising campaign is a joint initiative of Tourism Queensland, Virgin Blue, Blue Holidays, Lexmark Indy 300 and Gold Coast Tourism to use the world-class event to drive more interstate tourists to Queensland.
"Tourism Queensland has coordinated the partnership to promote the Gold Coast and provide opportunities for visitors to discover or rediscover the destination.
“Through partnership advertising campaigns, we hope to encourage people to stay longer and also spend more money on the Gold Coast.
“Major events such as Indy not only impact the tourism industry, but also tourism-related businesses, such as cafes, bars and restaurants.
“In fact, more than 50 per cent of all spending at the event will be received by accommodation, cafes and restaurants.”
Mrs Keech said Queensland attracted more than 17.2 million domestic tourists who spend more than $11.4 billion in Queensland each year.
“Domestic tourism is the lifeblood of Queensland’s tourism industry,” she said.
“Major tourism events such as the Lexmark Indy 300 on the Gold Coast help us to attract more diverse groups of domestic visitors to experience the state.
“The Queensland Government is dedicated to building strategic partnerships that not only increase tourism visitation, spending and employment opportunities but encourage new industry investment.”
The campaign includes radio, print and online advertising and will run till the end of this month.
This year’s Indy will be held from 18-21 October.
Media contact: Peter McCarthy 3225 1005
Mrs Keech said the campaign focused on extending the amount of time visitors stay during the Indy event, while encouraging them to participate in the full range of experiences offered on the Gold Coast.
“The Gold Coast Lexmark Indy 300 carnival attracts more than 300,000 people who stay more than 173,000 visitor nights and spend in excess of $50 million,” Mrs Keech said.
“The advertising campaign is a joint initiative of Tourism Queensland, Virgin Blue, Blue Holidays, Lexmark Indy 300 and Gold Coast Tourism to use the world-class event to drive more interstate tourists to Queensland.
"Tourism Queensland has coordinated the partnership to promote the Gold Coast and provide opportunities for visitors to discover or rediscover the destination.
“Through partnership advertising campaigns, we hope to encourage people to stay longer and also spend more money on the Gold Coast.
“Major events such as Indy not only impact the tourism industry, but also tourism-related businesses, such as cafes, bars and restaurants.
“In fact, more than 50 per cent of all spending at the event will be received by accommodation, cafes and restaurants.”
Mrs Keech said Queensland attracted more than 17.2 million domestic tourists who spend more than $11.4 billion in Queensland each year.
“Domestic tourism is the lifeblood of Queensland’s tourism industry,” she said.
“Major tourism events such as the Lexmark Indy 300 on the Gold Coast help us to attract more diverse groups of domestic visitors to experience the state.
“The Queensland Government is dedicated to building strategic partnerships that not only increase tourism visitation, spending and employment opportunities but encourage new industry investment.”
The campaign includes radio, print and online advertising and will run till the end of this month.
This year’s Indy will be held from 18-21 October.
Media contact: Peter McCarthy 3225 1005