Published Thursday, 20 December, 2007 at 10:42 AM
Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry
The Honourable Desley Boyle
Tourism ambassadors to spread safety message
Two top Queensland tourism industry figures have been officially inducted as Visitor Safety Ambassadors at a ceremony in Brisbane today.
Gold Coast identity and Dreamworld CEO Stephen Gregg and the Whitsundays’ Suzette Pelt of Queensland Yacht Charters were selected to help spread water safety messages as part of the Visitor Safety Ambassador Program, Tourism and Regional Development Minister Desley Boyle said.
“These ambassadors are highly-respected local industry figures,” Ms Boyle said.
“As industry leaders, they will no doubt do a fantastic job at encouraging other tourism operators to ensure visitor safety is a top priority.
“Queensland - and Australia more generally - already has an excellent international reputation for visitor safety.
“It is important we safeguard this reputation and ensure visitors to Queensland have both a fantastic stay and a safe one.”
The Visitor Safety Ambassador Program aims to educate and encourage other industry members and operators to promote safety to their visitors.
The program is a joint initiative of Tourism Queensland, Surf Life Saving Queensland and the Queensland Tourism Industry Council, in conjunction with the Queensland Visitor Safety Program Working Group.
“The ambassadors are best-practice operators and will promote water safety through networking with their peers and by example in their own businesses,” Ms Boyle said.
Other safety ambassadors are: Tony Baker from the Quicksilver Group and Skyrail’s Max Shepherd – both from Tropical North Queensland - and Tadashi Echikawa of Japan Tourism Gold Coast and JTB Australia.
“As the first official Visitor Safety Ambassador myself, I’m very proud to be welcoming another five dedicated industry leaders to our program,” Ms Boyle said.
“This initiative was launched earlier this year and now we’re very pleased to be taking it to the next level as we head into the busy Christmas period.
“Queensland’s waters offer so much pleasure to both locals and visitors.
“Nonetheless, as in any natural environment, we should all be aware of the ways we can stay safe, and tourism operators and their staff are the first line of defence in helping visitors do just that.
“Tourism operators can play an integral role by adopting best practice initiatives.
“For example, in Tropical North Queensland, our ambassadors will be encouraging other operators to promote the use of stinger suits, to prominently display safety information and to personally deliver safety messages to visitors at every opportunity.
“In southern Queensland, the messages will include reiterating the need to swim between the flags, as well as other surf safety reminders.
“This is a tremendous initiative and I congratulate our ambassadors, Tourism Queensland, Surf Life Saving Queensland and the Queensland Tourism Industry Council in coming together for such an important issue.”
Ends
Note for media: Photos of Mr Gregg and Ms Pelt are available on request.
Media contact: Minister Boyle: 3224 2007 or Tourism Queensland: 3535 5010
20 December 2007
Gold Coast identity and Dreamworld CEO Stephen Gregg and the Whitsundays’ Suzette Pelt of Queensland Yacht Charters were selected to help spread water safety messages as part of the Visitor Safety Ambassador Program, Tourism and Regional Development Minister Desley Boyle said.
“These ambassadors are highly-respected local industry figures,” Ms Boyle said.
“As industry leaders, they will no doubt do a fantastic job at encouraging other tourism operators to ensure visitor safety is a top priority.
“Queensland - and Australia more generally - already has an excellent international reputation for visitor safety.
“It is important we safeguard this reputation and ensure visitors to Queensland have both a fantastic stay and a safe one.”
The Visitor Safety Ambassador Program aims to educate and encourage other industry members and operators to promote safety to their visitors.
The program is a joint initiative of Tourism Queensland, Surf Life Saving Queensland and the Queensland Tourism Industry Council, in conjunction with the Queensland Visitor Safety Program Working Group.
“The ambassadors are best-practice operators and will promote water safety through networking with their peers and by example in their own businesses,” Ms Boyle said.
Other safety ambassadors are: Tony Baker from the Quicksilver Group and Skyrail’s Max Shepherd – both from Tropical North Queensland - and Tadashi Echikawa of Japan Tourism Gold Coast and JTB Australia.
“As the first official Visitor Safety Ambassador myself, I’m very proud to be welcoming another five dedicated industry leaders to our program,” Ms Boyle said.
“This initiative was launched earlier this year and now we’re very pleased to be taking it to the next level as we head into the busy Christmas period.
“Queensland’s waters offer so much pleasure to both locals and visitors.
“Nonetheless, as in any natural environment, we should all be aware of the ways we can stay safe, and tourism operators and their staff are the first line of defence in helping visitors do just that.
“Tourism operators can play an integral role by adopting best practice initiatives.
“For example, in Tropical North Queensland, our ambassadors will be encouraging other operators to promote the use of stinger suits, to prominently display safety information and to personally deliver safety messages to visitors at every opportunity.
“In southern Queensland, the messages will include reiterating the need to swim between the flags, as well as other surf safety reminders.
“This is a tremendous initiative and I congratulate our ambassadors, Tourism Queensland, Surf Life Saving Queensland and the Queensland Tourism Industry Council in coming together for such an important issue.”
Ends
Note for media: Photos of Mr Gregg and Ms Pelt are available on request.
Media contact: Minister Boyle: 3224 2007 or Tourism Queensland: 3535 5010
20 December 2007