Take a Bonus Break in Queensland with the bonus

The State Government will stage a determined tourism campaign to lure recipients of the Commonwealth’s cash bonus to Queensland to help shore up jobs in the critical tourism sector.

Premier Anna Bligh said the $1.3 million Bonus Breaks campaign to be launched by Tourism Queensland will target southern tourists with quality bargain holiday breaks in key Queensland tourism regions at the end of February – in time for the first Federal Government cash bonuses which will be delivered in March.

Ms Bligh said the campaign was part of the government’s unwavering effort to ensure the tourism industry was able to ride out the current economic downturn.

“If we encourage and succeed in getting both locals and southerners to take advantage of the deals which will be on offer, we shore up those existing jobs and create new ones in the sector,” Ms Bligh said.

“At its core, this is about keeping your mates and your fellow Queenslanders in a job.

“The industry directly employs 119,000 Queenslanders and 75 per cent of those are small businesses.

“But the industry is feeling the effects of the global economic downturn and there’s no option but to act quickly and decisively to ensure jobs – from hotel staff to tour guides to theme park workers to airport staff – are safe.

“We anticipated a second economic stimulus package announcement by the Rudd Government and Tourism Queensland has been working on this campaign well in advance in preparation for that announcement.

“As recently as last week when I visited Cairns tourism industry officials advised me they needed a large scale campaign like this.

“We were ready to go in anticipation of the Federal Government’s announcement and today I am here to deliver it.

“The industry was pleased with the results of the ‘Too Easy’ campaign late last year, funded out of the State Government’s $4 million assistance package, which generated an additional 16,000 bed nights and an economic bonus of $9.5 million.

“This new print, online, billboard and radio campaign will offer the best holiday deals in the country and I encourage all Australians to take advantage of them.

“It will generate an additional 22,000 extra bed nights and $13 million in visitor expenditure.”

Tourism Minister Desley Boyle said for less than $1,000, holiday-makers could enjoy up to five nights – including airfares and accommodation – in key Queensland holiday destinations including Cairns, Hervey Bay, Townsville and the Gold and Sunshine Coasts.

Ms Boyle said the government had joined forces with Flight Centre and Virgin Blue, two Queensland companies, to stage the deals which will come on-line in early March.

Meantime, the national advertising campaign would be launched at the end of February.

“I’m delighted to have the support of Flight Centre and Virgin Blue and am equally delighted that more than 140 tourism businesses have already signed on to support this campaign,” Ms Boyle said.

“The tourism industry is critical to Queensland’s economy and the Bligh Government will do everything in its power to ensure it is well positioned to cope with the global economic downturn.

“With the combination of the Federal Government’s $950 cash bonus and the savings families will get with the reduction in mortgage rates announced yesterday, I encourage everyone to consider taking a bonus break.

“By doing so, you are not only putting those dollars back into the economy, but helping sustain our tourism industry and maintaining those jobs which are so crucial to all Queenslanders.”

4 February 2009

Media: 3224 2004 (Tourism Minister’s office)

3224 4500 (Premier’s office)