Published Friday, 03 October, 2008 at 05:19 PM
Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry
The Honourable Desley Boyle
TNQ’s creative flair to be unleashed
A leading arts industry group in Tropical North Queensland will develop a strategy that will for the first time promote the region’s strong tourism and cultural sectors together in a bid to lure more visitors.
Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry Desley Boyle today announced $20,000 in State Government funding would go towards the development of a Tropical North Queensland Cultural Tourism Strategy.
“The strategy will take a new approach to marketing our region’s tourism experiences – it’ll broaden our already world-famous eco-tourism products to include the best of what we have to offer culturally,” Ms Boyle said.
“We want to make sure that visitors not only enjoy our beautiful Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest, but also know they can wander into the city to see our wonderful Indigenous art galleries, vibrant cultural festivals and talented local musicians.
“TNQ is a major contributor to our nation’s cultural fabric and Arts Nexus will work together with tourism organisations to look at innovative ways to package and promote our cultural assets.
“By identifying our cultural and creative arts strengths, we will provide greater economic benefit to individual artists, arts organisations and the regional economy as a whole.”
The Federal Government has also invested $20,000 in the strategy, through the Department of Broadband, Communications & the Digital Economy.
Member for Leichhardt, Jim Turnour, said the development of cultural strategy would further enhance the Tropical North's tourism product.
"Cultural tourism has the potential to create jobs and stimulate the local economy," he said.
"The region is going through some tough times, particularly the tourism industry, so it's great to see the Federal and State Governments working together with the local community to explore new opportunities.”
She said Arts Nexus would establish a steering committee representing all key stakeholders to ensure the TNQ Cultural Tourism Strategy encompassed the cultural richness and diversity of the region.
The strategy is expected to be drafted by March next year.
Arts Nexus executive officer Eve Stafford said, “Cairns as a major hub on the edge of the Asia-Pacific rim is increasingly becoming the front door to Australian culture.
“Both tourism and arts are leading industries within our region. This first-ever cultural tourism strategy is a missing link to bring them together to add culture to nature-based tourism.”
Minister Boyle’s office: Kirstie Maier 3225 1005 or 0448 135 195
Jim Turnour’s office: Belinda Featherstone 0427 737 203
Arts Nexus media contact: Eve Stafford 4051 4433 or 0437 366 651
3 October 2008
Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry Desley Boyle today announced $20,000 in State Government funding would go towards the development of a Tropical North Queensland Cultural Tourism Strategy.
“The strategy will take a new approach to marketing our region’s tourism experiences – it’ll broaden our already world-famous eco-tourism products to include the best of what we have to offer culturally,” Ms Boyle said.
“We want to make sure that visitors not only enjoy our beautiful Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest, but also know they can wander into the city to see our wonderful Indigenous art galleries, vibrant cultural festivals and talented local musicians.
“TNQ is a major contributor to our nation’s cultural fabric and Arts Nexus will work together with tourism organisations to look at innovative ways to package and promote our cultural assets.
“By identifying our cultural and creative arts strengths, we will provide greater economic benefit to individual artists, arts organisations and the regional economy as a whole.”
The Federal Government has also invested $20,000 in the strategy, through the Department of Broadband, Communications & the Digital Economy.
Member for Leichhardt, Jim Turnour, said the development of cultural strategy would further enhance the Tropical North's tourism product.
"Cultural tourism has the potential to create jobs and stimulate the local economy," he said.
"The region is going through some tough times, particularly the tourism industry, so it's great to see the Federal and State Governments working together with the local community to explore new opportunities.”
She said Arts Nexus would establish a steering committee representing all key stakeholders to ensure the TNQ Cultural Tourism Strategy encompassed the cultural richness and diversity of the region.
The strategy is expected to be drafted by March next year.
Arts Nexus executive officer Eve Stafford said, “Cairns as a major hub on the edge of the Asia-Pacific rim is increasingly becoming the front door to Australian culture.
“Both tourism and arts are leading industries within our region. This first-ever cultural tourism strategy is a missing link to bring them together to add culture to nature-based tourism.”
Minister Boyle’s office: Kirstie Maier 3225 1005 or 0448 135 195
Jim Turnour’s office: Belinda Featherstone 0427 737 203
Arts Nexus media contact: Eve Stafford 4051 4433 or 0437 366 651
3 October 2008