Published Thursday, 04 December, 2008 at 10:30 AM
Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry
The Honourable Desley Boyle
Tourism Sunshine Coast receives $79,000 State Government Christmas present
A nature-based tourism action plan for the Sunshine Coast hinterland is one of a series of tourism initiatives to be funded as part of a $79,000 special funding grant for Tourism Sunshine Coast, Tourism Minister Desley Boyle announced today.
The grant, part of $1 million in State Government funding allocated to the state’s 14 regional tourism organisations, will be used for three key projects - identifying opportunities for new nature-based tourism product and infrastructure in the Sunshine Coast hinterland; developing a more accessible network of walking tracks and trails throughout the region; and establishing a program to help local operators tap into international markets.
“Tourists are increasingly looking for experiences to connect with the natural environment and there are numerous opportunities for operators in the Sunshine Coast hinterland to tap into this demand,” Ms Boyle said.
“Likewise, international tourists are always looking for new and different experiences and the ‘International Connect’ program will help local operators build relationships with inbound tour operators who book and sell tourism product overseas.
“The International Connect program will help open some doors for Sunshine Coast operators and will build on the work the destination has already done through the Developing Export Ready Product Scheme, and through its participation in the Great Sunshine Way – a drive route marketed to international tourists which covers a loop stretching from the Gold Coast to Brisbane, the Sunshine and Fraser Coasts.”
Ms Boyle said the Sunshine Coast had some fantastic tourism experiences.
”Government and industry both need to continue to raise the bar by constantly looking for new opportunities and better ways of doing things,” she said.
Ms Boyle said in the year to June 30 2008, 2.9 million domestic and 282,000 international visitors spent time on the Sunshine Coast, spending almost $2.8 billion.
Of these, 1.7 million domestic and 226,000 international visitors came specifically on holiday.
“Tourism is one of the key economic drivers for the region so it’s important the local industry continually looks for ways to improve and develop fresh, new product,” she said.
“The $1 million in grant funding is a State Government commitment to fund tourism development initiatives regional tourism organisations would otherwise be unable to undertake.
“Regional tourism organisations across the state will use their allocations for a whole range of projects from new product feasibility studies to industry education programs.”
Ms Boyle said the funding was part of the State Government’s Queensland Tourism Strategy commitment to an additional $4 million in funding over four years for regional tourism organisations.
“Competition for the tourist dollar is increasingly fierce and it’s important for destinations to constantly look at ways to improve their visitor experience – be it investigating new product opportunities, increasing customer service levels or providing business advice and support to operators,” she said.
“I was pleased to see so many high-quality submissions and look forward to seeing these projects come to fruition.”
Further information:
Minister’s office – 3225 1005 or 0419 025 326
Tourism Queensland – 3535 5010
The grant, part of $1 million in State Government funding allocated to the state’s 14 regional tourism organisations, will be used for three key projects - identifying opportunities for new nature-based tourism product and infrastructure in the Sunshine Coast hinterland; developing a more accessible network of walking tracks and trails throughout the region; and establishing a program to help local operators tap into international markets.
“Tourists are increasingly looking for experiences to connect with the natural environment and there are numerous opportunities for operators in the Sunshine Coast hinterland to tap into this demand,” Ms Boyle said.
“Likewise, international tourists are always looking for new and different experiences and the ‘International Connect’ program will help local operators build relationships with inbound tour operators who book and sell tourism product overseas.
“The International Connect program will help open some doors for Sunshine Coast operators and will build on the work the destination has already done through the Developing Export Ready Product Scheme, and through its participation in the Great Sunshine Way – a drive route marketed to international tourists which covers a loop stretching from the Gold Coast to Brisbane, the Sunshine and Fraser Coasts.”
Ms Boyle said the Sunshine Coast had some fantastic tourism experiences.
”Government and industry both need to continue to raise the bar by constantly looking for new opportunities and better ways of doing things,” she said.
Ms Boyle said in the year to June 30 2008, 2.9 million domestic and 282,000 international visitors spent time on the Sunshine Coast, spending almost $2.8 billion.
Of these, 1.7 million domestic and 226,000 international visitors came specifically on holiday.
“Tourism is one of the key economic drivers for the region so it’s important the local industry continually looks for ways to improve and develop fresh, new product,” she said.
“The $1 million in grant funding is a State Government commitment to fund tourism development initiatives regional tourism organisations would otherwise be unable to undertake.
“Regional tourism organisations across the state will use their allocations for a whole range of projects from new product feasibility studies to industry education programs.”
Ms Boyle said the funding was part of the State Government’s Queensland Tourism Strategy commitment to an additional $4 million in funding over four years for regional tourism organisations.
“Competition for the tourist dollar is increasingly fierce and it’s important for destinations to constantly look at ways to improve their visitor experience – be it investigating new product opportunities, increasing customer service levels or providing business advice and support to operators,” she said.
“I was pleased to see so many high-quality submissions and look forward to seeing these projects come to fruition.”
Further information:
Minister’s office – 3225 1005 or 0419 025 326
Tourism Queensland – 3535 5010