Published Thursday, 20 December, 2007 at 10:43 AM
Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry
The Honourable Desley Boyle
FNQ tourism ambassadors to spread safety message
Two high profile Far North Queensland tourism industry figures will help spread water safety messages as part of a visitor safety program, Tourism and Regional Development Minister Desley Boyle said today.
Ms Boyle said the inclusion of Tony Baker from the Quicksilver Group and Max Shepherd from Skyrail in the group of five industry ambassadors would be an asset to Queensland’s Visitor Safety Program.
“Tony Baker and Max Shepherd are both highly-respected local industry figures and will no doubt prove to be a fantastic resource in encouraging other tourism operators to ensure visitor safety is a top priority,” Ms Boyle said.
The Visitor Safety Ambassador Program aims to educate and encourage other industry members and operators to promote key safety messages to their visitors.
“Tony and Max are best practice operators and will promote water safety through networking with their peers and by example in their own businesses.
“Queensland - and Australia more generally - already has an excellent international reputation for visitor safety.
“It’s important we safeguard this reputation and ensure visitors to Queensland have both a fantastic stay and a safe one.”
Ms Boyle said announcing the ambassadors was an important step in the Visitor Safety Program.
“As first official Visitor Safety Ambassador myself, I’m very proud to be welcoming another five dedicated industry leaders to our program,” she said.
“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.
“It was launched earlier this year and now we’re very pleased to be taking it to the next level as we lead into the busy summer period.
“The other ambassadors are Suzette Pelt from Whitsunday Yacht Charters, Dreamworld CEO Stephen Gregg and Tadashi Echikawa of Japan Tourism Gold Coast and JTB Australia.”
Ms Boyle said the program’s messages were paramount to visitor safety.
“Queensland’s waters offer so much pleasure to both locals and visitors,” she said.
“However, 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.
“Operators can play an integral role by adopting best practice initiatives.
“For example, in the Far North, 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
Media contact: Minister Boyle: 3224 2007 or Tourism Queensland: 3535 5010
20 December 2007
Ms Boyle said the inclusion of Tony Baker from the Quicksilver Group and Max Shepherd from Skyrail in the group of five industry ambassadors would be an asset to Queensland’s Visitor Safety Program.
“Tony Baker and Max Shepherd are both highly-respected local industry figures and will no doubt prove to be a fantastic resource in encouraging other tourism operators to ensure visitor safety is a top priority,” Ms Boyle said.
The Visitor Safety Ambassador Program aims to educate and encourage other industry members and operators to promote key safety messages to their visitors.
“Tony and Max are best practice operators and will promote water safety through networking with their peers and by example in their own businesses.
“Queensland - and Australia more generally - already has an excellent international reputation for visitor safety.
“It’s important we safeguard this reputation and ensure visitors to Queensland have both a fantastic stay and a safe one.”
Ms Boyle said announcing the ambassadors was an important step in the Visitor Safety Program.
“As first official Visitor Safety Ambassador myself, I’m very proud to be welcoming another five dedicated industry leaders to our program,” she said.
“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.
“It was launched earlier this year and now we’re very pleased to be taking it to the next level as we lead into the busy summer period.
“The other ambassadors are Suzette Pelt from Whitsunday Yacht Charters, Dreamworld CEO Stephen Gregg and Tadashi Echikawa of Japan Tourism Gold Coast and JTB Australia.”
Ms Boyle said the program’s messages were paramount to visitor safety.
“Queensland’s waters offer so much pleasure to both locals and visitors,” she said.
“However, 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.
“Operators can play an integral role by adopting best practice initiatives.
“For example, in the Far North, 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
Media contact: Minister Boyle: 3224 2007 or Tourism Queensland: 3535 5010
20 December 2007