Study supports value of tourism to Southern Downs and Granite Belt

A study reporting that tourists spent more than $100 million in the Southern Downs and Granite Belt region in 2006/07 was testimony to tourism’s importance to the regional economy, Tourism Minister Desley Boyle said today.

Ms Boyle was commenting on the release by Southern Downs and Granite Belt Regional Tourism of a study into the economic impact of tourists in the region.

“When tourists visit a destination they put money into the pockets of far more than just the local motelier, B&B owner or restaurateur,” Ms Boyle said.

“The tourist dollar is divvied up between almost every business in town, from the local supermarket, petrol station and takeaway, to wider businesses such as the transport companies that ship in goods and the farmers who supply fresh produce to restaurants and supermarkets.

“This provides jobs and economic benefit far beyond those who are directly employed by tourism businesses.”

Ms Boyle congratulated Southern Downs Granite Belt Regional Tourism for its initiative in undertaking the study, which resulted from Tourism Queensland funding under the Regional Tourism Organisation Special Grants program.

“Each year regional tourism organisations have the opportunity to apply to Tourism Queensland for special one-off grants for specific projects,” she said.

“This study is a great initiative of Southern Downs and Granite Belt Tourism and will prove extremely useful in encouraging the local business and government community to continue to support tourism development in the region.

“As tourists become more sophisticated they are increasingly looking for new destinations and experiences and regional areas such as the Southern Downs and Granite Belt have the potential to benefit from this demand.”

Ms Boyle said Tourism Queensland, in association with the local tourism industry, was working on a range of initiatives to encourage the future growth of tourism to the region.
This included the development of a Regional Tourism Infrastructure and Investment Plan for South East Queensland Country, of which the Southern Downs and Granite Belt were part.

“This plan will look at existing tourism product and infrastructure, where the gaps are, and identify a range of public and private projects to encourage investment in new tourism projects such as accommodation, experiences and activities,” Ms Boyle said.

“The plan will be released for consultation later this year.”

Ms Boyle said Tourism Queensland was also supporting Southern Downs and Granite Belt Tourism’s spring campaign, which would leverage off the greater South East Queensland Country spring marketing activities.

“Tourism Queensland has also commissioned a larger research project into the benefits of tourism to regional economies across the state and this report will be released in the first half of 2009.”

Southern Downs and Granite Belt Tourism Chief Operating Officer, Kim Henshaw, said he was pleased the report confirmed the importance of the tourism industry to the Southern Downs and Granite Belt and congratulated everyone involved in the development and promotion of tourism in the region over the years.

“What’s particularly exciting is that we now know the extent to which the tourism industry brings flow-on benefits, both in financial and employment terms, to other business sectors and to the community as a whole,” Mr Henshaw said.

“As the peak industry body for the region we’ll continue to do all that we can to ensure that tourism continues to grow and prosper.”

“Our thanks go Tourism Queensland and to Minister Boyle and her colleagues for their tangible support of the industry in the Southern Downs and Granite Belt region.”


Further information:
Minister’s Office – Marcus Taylor 3225 1005 or 0419 025 326 
Tourism Queensland – Kerri Anderson 3535 5010