Queensland Unleashes Radio/Online Tourism Blitz in China

A major radio and online advertising campaign costing AUD400,000 has started in start in China today telling millions of Chinese why there’s nothing like Queensland for an Australian holiday.

The Chinese radio and online blitz forms part of the AUD10 million global tourism recovery strategy announced by the Australian and Queensland Governments last month. AUD400,000 goes a long way on radio and online channels in China.

“China is one of Australia’s fastest growing tourism markets and regional areas such as the Gold Coast and Tropical North Queensland have worked hard to attract Chinese visitors out of the major gateways,” Tourism Minister Martin Ferguson said.

“By targeting Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, the radio and online campaign will be encouraging Chinese families, couples and singles to take up the recently increased air capacity and book a trip to Australia.”

The activity follows the recent visit by 25 journalists from mainland China, who participated in the week long global familiarisation tour of Queensland as part of a contingent of almost 200 journalists from 22 countries who travelled to more than 20 Queensland destinations.

“In the coming weeks Tourism Queensland will also roll out a series of Chinese market workshops for the Queensland tourism industry to assist Queensland businesses better understand Chinese culture, customs and business practices,” said Queensland’s Minister for Tourism, Manufacturing and Small Business, Jan Jarratt.

“China is now Queensland’s fourth largest and fastest growing international market with the state welcoming 188,000 Chinese visitors in 2010, a 23 percent increase on the previous year.

“Chinese visitors spent $338 million on their trips to the state in 2010, an increase of 18 percent on the previous year.

“It is forecast that by 2014 over 255,000 Chinese will visit the state as part of their Australian adventures.

“It’s important for Queensland’s tourism industry to capitalise on the state’s increasing popularity with Chinese visitors.”

Jarratt said recovery efforts by the industry were in full swing and the world now knew that nothing beats the resilience of Queensland’s tourism industry.

“This marketing activity is an important component of our recovery strategy, designed to encourage Chinese travellers to book a Queensland holiday and support the state’s AUD9.2 billion tourism industry,” she said.

(Source: eGlobaltravelmedia.com.au ; Peter Needham ; 5th April 2011)

Black Jack, Wild Oats and Lahana to Battle for Brisbane Keppel Line Honours QLD Hotels 30/06/2010

Mooloolaba Yacht Club's Rod Jones, the only skipper to win two Audi Australian ocean racing championship trophies, will be forced to protect his reputation in the 348 nm Club Marine Brisbane to Keppel Island race next month.

The feature event hosted by the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron has, as expected, attracted a high standard fleet including the Peter Harburg owned Black Jack racing under the Queensland ‘battle flag’ against her New South Wales rival, the Bob Oatley owned Wild Oats X.

Both skipper Rod Jones and his core crew including the talented Shaun O’Rourke and Greg Macallansmith have been busy preparing the exciting new GP42 Alegria IV for her maiden coastal passage classic and match race against the 2010 Brisbane to Gladstone race winner the Bill Wild skippered Wedgetail.

Alegria IV and Wedgetail are radically different in design but are identical in waterline length which suggests they will almost certainly become involved in a private mate against mate match race.

A simular intense minute by minute tactical dogfight is also expected to be played out on the decks of the Mark Bradford skippered Black Jack and the Mark Richards helmed Wild Oats X.

Black Jack has a proud reputation to protect. She remains undefeated in Queensland’s major blue water racing classics having taken line honours in the past two Brisbane to Gladstone races and is the defending Brisbane to Keppel Race line honours overall IRC handicap champion and race record holder.

This clash between Australia’s best crewed and fastest 20.3 m ocean racing yachts will no doubt turn into a 348 nm drag race with the result determined by the human elements of physical endurance and a superior tactical strategy.

Local coastal racing experience suggests Black Jack deserves to be the pre-race favourite but Mark Bradford and his principal crew mates including owner Peter Harburg should be physically and mentally prepared for an exhausting match race when the super fast sloops go head to head for the prestigious line honours trophy.

They have the proven speed potential to weather the challenge from the larger Sydney sloop the 30m Lahana.But they will need to be tactically prepared to protect their race honours if a moderate to fresh spinnaker sailing breeze allows Lahana to exercise the advantage of her extra waterline length.

This trio will set the pace at the head of the fleet while an equally interesting match race will unfold between Wedgetail and Alegria IV, Lambourdini, Eleven, Bribie Star, Cracklin Rosie, Night Nurse, Acadia and Bobby’s Girl to set the required handicap rated speed to outpace Black Jack and Wild Oats X for fastest corrected course time.

Black Jack, which averaged 11.8 knots to claim a rare triple honour (line honours, record and handicap) in 2009, has improved in 2010 and is sure to set the pace for her rivals to chase.

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Brisbane Airport named among world's best ( QLD Accommodation)

Brisbane Airport, Australia's third busiest, has been named among the top 25 airports across the globe by travellers in the 2010 Skytrax World Airport Awards.

Announced during a ceremony in Brussels on Tuesday (GMT) the title of the world's best went to Singapore's Changi Airport.

The awards were based on a survey of airport customers that was carried out between July 2009 and March 2010.

Chairman of Skytrax, Edward Plaisted, said more than 9.8 million survey interviews were completed in deciding the awards.

Brisbane Airport was named in 18th place overall.

Brisbane Airport spokesperson Jim Carden said it was a pleasant surprise, following the recent nomination as Australia's best performing Airport by the ACCC.

"We are very proud of this achievement, and to be the only Australian airport listed in the top 25 is very pleasing. These are important awards, voted by the best judges of all - the travelling public,” he said.

“This award is a tribute to our partners. Brisbane Airport Corporation is just a small company of 200 employees. It’s the 320 businesses and 17,000 airport workers who ensure Brisbane Airport is operating at a world class standard.

"We are especially pleased given the fact we are in the midst of a major infrastructure program, including our newly opened Moreton Drive, the refurbished International Terminal and the upcoming redevelopment of the Domestic Terminal. These are all critical investments to keep the airport ahead of capacity demand, but undertaken in a tough financial and operating environment.

"We certainly won't rest on our laurels, as we are determined to make Brisbane Airport even better for our airline customers and more importantly for the millions of Queenslanders and indeed Australians who rely on efficient, flexible 24 hour connections to the world,” Mr Carden said.

Brisbane Airport Corporation
11 The Circuit
Number 1 Airport Drive
p: 07 3406 3000
w: www.brisbaneairport.com.au

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