Flowers sprout millions for Toowoomba’s visitor economy

September’s Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers has sprouted more than $22 million for the Garden City’s Covid-19 Economic Recovery Plan, now underway.

Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the award-winning carnival had also delivered 155,000 visitor nights for Toowoomba’s accommodation providers, restaurants and cafés.

“The Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers perfectly demonstrates the importance of world-class events for supporting local jobs and encouraging visitors to stay longer,” Mr Hinchliffe said.

“Data from Tourism and Events Queensland shows September’s Carnival of Flowers thrived with more than 284,000 visitors, up 33 per cent on last year, and created strong demand for overnight accommodation.

“Carnival organisers saw the pandemic as an opportunity to cultivate a new, month-long event and rebuild better for the future.

“The change of format has paid off with the event’s popularity growing to make a significant $22 million contribution to Toowoomba’s visitor economy.

“That’s why the Palaszczuk Government is backing events around Queensland to support local jobs for our Covid-19 Economic Recovery Plan.”  

The Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers won silver in the Major Festivals and Events category at the recent Queensland Tourism Awards.

Toowoomba Regional Council’s Cr James O’Shea thanked Council gardeners for nurturing the carnival’s floral attractions.

“The canvas of colour everywhere, truly created the event everyone needed this year,” Cr O’Shea said.

“Our highly successful COVID-Safe format for the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers has become the blueprint for change and success.”

The first Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers was in 1949. 

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