New plan highlights top ten future tourism projects for Brisbane
Published Thursday, 27 November, 2008 at 10:30 AM
Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry
The Honourable Desley Boyle
A new long term plan highlighting future tourism investment and infrastructure opportunities was released today by Tourism Queensland and Brisbane City Council.
Tourism Minister Desley Boyle said the plan highlighted the opportunity for private sector investment in areas such as new hotel accommodation, new Moreton Bay connections and more interpretative and information centres.
“The report specifically details ten aspirational tourism projects for the Brisbane region, including a nationally significant Indigenous visitor attraction at South Bank, a revamped Mount Coot-tha and creation of a new ferry terminal for Moreton Bay and Islands on Brisbane River,” Ms Boyle said.
“There is no doubt the Queensland tourism industry will recover from the current difficult economic circumstances.
“So we need to plan now for the future and investigate the many tremendous opportunities to develop new product and investment.
“For the past 12 months Tourism Queensland has worked alongside Brisbane Marketing in partnership with the local tourism industry to develop the Brisbane Regional Tourism Investment and Infrastructure Plan.
“More than 300 industry operators, developers and investors were consulted in the preparation of the report, which is part of the Queensland Government’s 10-year Queensland Tourism Strategy.
“In the last ten years, domestic visitors to Brisbane have increased by 22 percent and international visitors have increased by 28 percent, but competition for the tourist dollar is increasingly cut-throat,” she said.
Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman said Brisbane was currently Queensland’s number one tourism gateway with international visitor spend a massive $1.35 billion last year.
“This is a practical and long-term plan to secure Brisbane’s future as a top destination and promote our city to the world,” Cr Newman said.
“The completed vision will create distinct opportunities for private investors to come on board helping us deliver increased tourism revenue to the Brisbane economy.
“The next stage is to move forward on a number of feasibility studies on all ten catalyst projects from both a commercial and environmental point of view.
The 10 catalyst projects identified as possible triggers for further development and growth in the region were:
1. An internationally significant national Indigenous centre on a centrally located river frontage site.
2. A Moreton Bay aquarium and marine discovery centre.
3. A ‘Story of Brisbane’ high-tech interpretation centre and a viewing platform of Greater Brisbane and the Scenic Rim at Mt Coot-tha. The project could include a cable car system between the lookout and the botanic gardens.
4. Two new or redeveloped major piers for river boat and island services from Brisbane city centre.
5. A second shipping terminal up river to support existing facilities and address the needs of the new, larger cruise ships visiting Brisbane.
6. Two new international five to six star hotels to be built at Victoria Park and in the CBD.
7. Ipswich to extend its successful railway heritage theme to create a tourism precinct with a conference centre and accommodation facilities.
8. A major walk with associated hut and high quality lodge-style accommodation infrastructure in the Scenic Rim.
9. Development of a major Moreton Bay ferry terminus at or near the mouth of the Brisbane River for a faster and more effective link between the CBD and the Moreton Bay islands.
10. An eco-lodge on Moreton Island.
Ends
Media contact: 3225 1005 or 0419 025 326
Tourism Queensland: 3535 5010
Tourism Minister Desley Boyle said the plan highlighted the opportunity for private sector investment in areas such as new hotel accommodation, new Moreton Bay connections and more interpretative and information centres.
“The report specifically details ten aspirational tourism projects for the Brisbane region, including a nationally significant Indigenous visitor attraction at South Bank, a revamped Mount Coot-tha and creation of a new ferry terminal for Moreton Bay and Islands on Brisbane River,” Ms Boyle said.
“There is no doubt the Queensland tourism industry will recover from the current difficult economic circumstances.
“So we need to plan now for the future and investigate the many tremendous opportunities to develop new product and investment.
“For the past 12 months Tourism Queensland has worked alongside Brisbane Marketing in partnership with the local tourism industry to develop the Brisbane Regional Tourism Investment and Infrastructure Plan.
“More than 300 industry operators, developers and investors were consulted in the preparation of the report, which is part of the Queensland Government’s 10-year Queensland Tourism Strategy.
“In the last ten years, domestic visitors to Brisbane have increased by 22 percent and international visitors have increased by 28 percent, but competition for the tourist dollar is increasingly cut-throat,” she said.
Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman said Brisbane was currently Queensland’s number one tourism gateway with international visitor spend a massive $1.35 billion last year.
“This is a practical and long-term plan to secure Brisbane’s future as a top destination and promote our city to the world,” Cr Newman said.
“The completed vision will create distinct opportunities for private investors to come on board helping us deliver increased tourism revenue to the Brisbane economy.
“The next stage is to move forward on a number of feasibility studies on all ten catalyst projects from both a commercial and environmental point of view.
The 10 catalyst projects identified as possible triggers for further development and growth in the region were:
1. An internationally significant national Indigenous centre on a centrally located river frontage site.
2. A Moreton Bay aquarium and marine discovery centre.
3. A ‘Story of Brisbane’ high-tech interpretation centre and a viewing platform of Greater Brisbane and the Scenic Rim at Mt Coot-tha. The project could include a cable car system between the lookout and the botanic gardens.
4. Two new or redeveloped major piers for river boat and island services from Brisbane city centre.
5. A second shipping terminal up river to support existing facilities and address the needs of the new, larger cruise ships visiting Brisbane.
6. Two new international five to six star hotels to be built at Victoria Park and in the CBD.
7. Ipswich to extend its successful railway heritage theme to create a tourism precinct with a conference centre and accommodation facilities.
8. A major walk with associated hut and high quality lodge-style accommodation infrastructure in the Scenic Rim.
9. Development of a major Moreton Bay ferry terminus at or near the mouth of the Brisbane River for a faster and more effective link between the CBD and the Moreton Bay islands.
10. An eco-lodge on Moreton Island.
Ends
Media contact: 3225 1005 or 0419 025 326
Tourism Queensland: 3535 5010