Published Thursday, 05 June, 2008 at 08:00 PM
Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry
The Honourable Desley Boyle
BLIGH GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES $4 MILLION INJECTION FOR QLD TOURISM
The Bligh Government has announced an immediate urgent injection of $4 million for the state’s tourism industry this evening.
The decision by Premier Bligh was made after Tourism Minister Desley Boyle met with high level national tourism heads this afternoon to discuss decisions this week by Qantas and Jetstar to cut domestic and international services.
“Active immediately Tourism Minister Desley Boyle and Tourism Queensland will implement a series of major domestic and international sales and marketing campaigns,” Ms Bligh said.
“Minister Boyle will meet with industry representatives over the next few days to discuss the implementation of this strategy and where it can be targeted for maximum benefit.
“I have tonight made contact with the Prime Minister who has authorised the Federal Tourism Minister to immediately work with the Queensland Government to develop a Federal Government response.
Ms Bligh said she had given the Tourism Minister Desley Boyle special leave from Parliament tomorrow to fly to Cairns to meet with local tourism operators.
“This will hit the Far North hard and it will have a ripple effect across the State and nation,” she said.
“I want Desley on the ground working with local industry representatives to minimise the impact on local tourism.
“It is the state’s second largest export industry generating $18 billion each year, employing 104,000 Queenslanders and supporting hundreds of family businesses, particularly in regional Queensland.
“These are tough times for the industry after months of unseasonable bad weather, a strong Australian dollar hurting inbound international tourism and, now, cuts to airline routes.”
Tourism Minister and Member for Cairns Desley Boyle said while the industry is reeling from recent announcements, it is tourism reliant economies in regions like Cairns and the Whitsundays that will hurt the most.
Ms Boyle said this multi-million dollar package will minimise the impact on tourism operators and organisations from the tip of the Cape to Coolangatta.
“The immediate response initiatives being funded under this plan will be done in partnership with state tourism operators and regional organisations.
“Through sales and marketing campaigns interstate and internationally we will be working extremely hard to boost tourism numbers and force airlines to reinstate flights.
“We have already begun work for the longer term on a program to grow other airline access to key Queensland destinations.”
5 June, 2008
Contact: Premier’s office 3224 4500
Minister’s Office 3225 1005 or 0419 025 326
The decision by Premier Bligh was made after Tourism Minister Desley Boyle met with high level national tourism heads this afternoon to discuss decisions this week by Qantas and Jetstar to cut domestic and international services.
“Active immediately Tourism Minister Desley Boyle and Tourism Queensland will implement a series of major domestic and international sales and marketing campaigns,” Ms Bligh said.
“Minister Boyle will meet with industry representatives over the next few days to discuss the implementation of this strategy and where it can be targeted for maximum benefit.
“I have tonight made contact with the Prime Minister who has authorised the Federal Tourism Minister to immediately work with the Queensland Government to develop a Federal Government response.
Ms Bligh said she had given the Tourism Minister Desley Boyle special leave from Parliament tomorrow to fly to Cairns to meet with local tourism operators.
“This will hit the Far North hard and it will have a ripple effect across the State and nation,” she said.
“I want Desley on the ground working with local industry representatives to minimise the impact on local tourism.
“It is the state’s second largest export industry generating $18 billion each year, employing 104,000 Queenslanders and supporting hundreds of family businesses, particularly in regional Queensland.
“These are tough times for the industry after months of unseasonable bad weather, a strong Australian dollar hurting inbound international tourism and, now, cuts to airline routes.”
Tourism Minister and Member for Cairns Desley Boyle said while the industry is reeling from recent announcements, it is tourism reliant economies in regions like Cairns and the Whitsundays that will hurt the most.
Ms Boyle said this multi-million dollar package will minimise the impact on tourism operators and organisations from the tip of the Cape to Coolangatta.
“The immediate response initiatives being funded under this plan will be done in partnership with state tourism operators and regional organisations.
“Through sales and marketing campaigns interstate and internationally we will be working extremely hard to boost tourism numbers and force airlines to reinstate flights.
“We have already begun work for the longer term on a program to grow other airline access to key Queensland destinations.”
5 June, 2008
Contact: Premier’s office 3224 4500
Minister’s Office 3225 1005 or 0419 025 326