Newman Doubles Tourism Funding To Regions

State funding for tourism organisations in regional Queensland will be doubled to help prop up the ailing industry.

Premier Campbell Newman told the DestinationQ conference in Cairns today the funding would increase from $3.11 million to $7 million through a redirection of resources as the industry struggles to attract tourists.

But he says the government can't afford to just "throw buckets of money" at the industry to help it compete with the high Australian dollar and neighbouring countries.

"Simply preserving what we have will not meet the challenges of the future," he told the 300-plus crowd.

"We can't afford to sit with the status quo and it won't get us to where we want to go."
Mr Newman had campaigned about tourism being one of the major pillars of Queensland's economy during the lead up to the state election.

He told tourism operators the conference was about coming up with a new way forward for the state's tourism as he promised to do in his first 100 days in government.

Some of the conference's major focuses will include reducing red tape, attracting and retaining skilled workers in the industry, marketing strategies and how national parks were operated.
The forum, which several ministers including deputy premier Jeff Seeney are attending, was welcomed by tourism bodies.

Accommodation Association of Australia CEO Richard Munro said it was important for frontline operators to be able to air their grievances directly to government.

"It's important for governments at all levels to put in place policies which promote investment in both existing and new tourism accommodation products which do not adversely impact on operators", Mr Munro said in a statement.

China Our Tourism Salvation

THE Sunshine Coast's increasing focus on the Chinese tourism market has been given the seal of approval by an international expert.

Dr Scott Richardson, an advisor to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, said new figures showed Chinese international tourism receipts rose 38 per cent last year.

Overall international tourist numbers jumped from 939 million in 2010 to 980 million in 2011 and were expected to reach the one billion mark this year.

This number will continue to grow and is expected to reach 1.8 billion international tourist arrivals by 2030.

With those sorts of figures in mind, the Sunshine Coast tourism industry has been heavily involved with Tourism Queensland pushes into the Chinese market and worked closely with council to host a string of delegations.

The Hyatt Regency Coolum resort last year introduced Chinese language brochures, menus and maps as well as employing a Chinese-speaking guest liaison officer as part of a broad-ranging bid to break into the lucrative market.

Noosa Chamber of Commerce has called for all school students to be taught Mandarin while direct flights to China will be one of the first priorities once Sunshine Coast Airport is upgraded to international standard.

A visit last November by officials from the Shaanxi Province of Tongchuan to discuss tourism and business opportunities prompted Sunshine Cost Destinations CEO Steve Cooper to proclaim the region was on the brink of "boom times".

Dr Richardson agreed, saying the Coast was poised to take advantage of a massive market.

"The potential to capitalise on an influx of Chinese tourists is huge and being part of the Asia-Pacific means Australia is in a perfect position to take advantage of their close proximity," he said.

"It also creates amazing opportunities for tourism graduates over the coming years, whether they are in the Australian tourism industry or pursuing the array of opportunities in China itself."

While the tourism industry had gone through a tough few years, Dr Richardson said his last quarterly Sunshine Coast tourism report to the UNWTO indicated an increase in revenue and activity.

"Last quarter was very positive for the industry, with things starting to settle down and people feeling freer to travel and spend their money," he said.

"The people I've talked to across the Sunshine Coast are noticing this."

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Australia Must Boost Tourism: Govt

Australia must do more to boost inbound tourism as the sector suffers from a strong local currency, increased competition from Asian destinations and less European visitors, the federal government says.

Speaking at an Australian Tourism Export Council conference Senator Nick Sherry said tourism operators needed to be more productive and innovative to halt the sector's decline.

"Australia's international market share has declined in recent years and domestic tourism expenditure has fallen since 2000," Mr Sherry told the conference on Wednesday.

"Not least of these challenges (is) increasing competition and the rise of the Australian dollar.

"We need to do something about this through investment in new products, boosting productivity, increasing uptake of digital technology and addressing labour and skills shortages."

He said there were no short term solutions to problems facing the industry, but said a surge in the number of tourists from Indonesia had been positive.

"Indonesian visitor growth alone was about 32 per cent in the last two years and by 2020 we expect the market value to more than double to $1.1 billion," he said.

Chinese vote Queensland Number One Green Tourism Destination

Queensland has been voted the ‘Green Tourism Destination of the Year’ by more than 4.2 million readers of China’s Travel Weekly tourism trade publication, said Minister for Tourism, Manufacturing and Small Business Jan Jarratt today.

The announcement was made at the 2011 China Travel & Meetings Industry Awards in Beijing overnight. Ms Jarratt said the award was a massive coup for Queensland.

“It’s wonderful to hear Queensland has been chosen as the top green tourism destination in the world by millions of Chinese travel industry members,” Ms Jarratt said.

“This achievement comes less than two months after the Premier’s trade mission to China where she unveiled ‘Project China’; a plan to attract more high-spending Chinese visitors, develop new airline and travel trade partnerships and help Queensland tourism operators cater for Chinese travellers.

“This result shows the hard work of Tourism Queensland is delivering results for Queensland and boosting the state’s profile as an eco-friendly holiday destination.

“Queensland was chosen as one of the top three green tourism destinations in the world by the selection panel and we went head-to-head with Norway and New Zealand before being voted into the number one spot by Travel Weekly China readers in an online poll.

Ms Jarratt said the award win could not have taken place within a more significant international market and was cause for optimistic forecasting.

“China is Queensland’s fourth largest and fastest growing international market with 197,000 Chinese visiting our state in the year ending March 2011, 29 percent more than the year prior,” Ms Jarratt said.

“The Chinese are also big spenders, outlaying $388 million on their trips to Queensland during the same period, a significant $62 million more than during the previous year.

“But with Chinese visitor numbers forecast to continue growing by double digits over the next few years this is no time to rest on our laurels.

“It’s vital that our tourism industry has the skills, products and experiences to make sure our Chinese friends have the best possible Queensland experience, and when they go home they tell their friends and family that Queensland truly is where Australia shines.

“Winning this ‘Green Tourism Destination of the Year’ award will not only put Queensland front-of-mind with our current and potential Chinese trade partners, but hopefully also capture the attention of millions of Chinese holidaymakers.”

Ms Jarratt said the award win was a sweet reward for Queensland’s tourism operators, particularly those who have participated in ‘China Ready’ training and Tourism Queensland’s Sustainable Regions Project.

“The Sustainable Regions Project is Australia’s first state-wide sustainable tourism project which aims to reduce the environmental impact of tourism by working with regional operators to help transform Queensland into a domestically and internationally-recognised sustainable tourism destination,” she said.

“The project has been a resounding success after being piloted in seven Queensland regions including Airlie Beach, Magnetic Island, North Stradbroke Island, Mackay Hinterland, Winton, and after running in Agnes Water/The Town of 1770 and the Capricorn Coast post pilot stage.

“An Eco-Efficiency Sustainable Regions Project is also wrapping up on the Gold Coast in partnership with the Gold Coast City Council and 10 Sunshine Coast event-focused tourism businesses are completing a Sustainable Regions program, funded through the $12 million State and Federal Governments’ tourism recovery package.

“Through the pilot stage of the project nearly 66 businesses across the state committed to reducing their combined carbon footprint by 1,237.76 tonnes of CO2 annually – that’s the equivalent of taking 289 cars of the road for a year!

“Queensland has some of the world’s most amazing natural environments and experiences on the planet, so it’s in the best interest of all to ensure we protect and sustain the natural beauty of our state.”

(Source: tq.com.au)

Peak Tourism Body Wary of Carbon Tax

Queensland’s peak body for tourism has grave concerns for the future of the tourism industry following the Gillard government’s Carbon Tax announcement yesterday.

Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) said there has been little or no recognition of the likely impact the tax will have on the tourism industry.

QTIC chief executive Daniel Gschwind said while it was impossible to gauge the exact bottom-line impact on the industry at this stage, it would certainly not be positive.

“The Gillard Government’s Carbon Tax proposal will increase the cost of doing business for many industries, including tourism, through the direct and indirect impact on energy costs,” Mr Gschwind said.

“The international competiveness of Australian tourism and hospitality services will be negatively affected, a further blow to businesses already feeling the strong Australian dollar which is seeing domestic travellers choosing cheaper overseas holidays instead of holidaying locally.

“While domestic airfares will be driven up by the tax, international fares will not. And consumers with higher incomes, and thus a greater propensity to travel, will feel more of an impact on their hip pockets thanks to the price on carbon,” he said.

Mr Gschwind said while the tourism industry was fully committed to a sustainable economy, the positive impact of the carbon tax on the environment, and tourist destinations like the Barrier Reef, was questionable.

“The tourism sector in Queensland has long recognised that a clean environment is a core asset to our industry. We have been making a significant investment, at a cost to businesses, to develop and implement sustainable practices for several years now.

“For the tourism industry in Queensland a further concern for operators is how the new carbon pricing will affect consumer confidence, with any uncertainty translating into less spending on discretionary items like holiday.

“The proposed carbon tax will create a very challenging and costly business environment that our industry now needs to navigate, with the benefits being only a minimal reduction in global greenhouse gas emissions.

“Unlike other export-oriented industries including coal and other resource industries, tourism will not receive any compensation in the proposed package, which means the forgotten sectors like tourism will suffer as we shoulder a greater burden.”

Mr Gschwind also said the Carbon Tax announcement would only compound the suffering of an industry still recovering from the floods and cyclones that ravaged the state earlier this year.

The Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) is the State’s peak body for tourism. QTIC is a not-for-profit membership organisation representing members' interests - both large and small. QTIC has in excess of 3,000 regional members, operating in all sectors of the tourism industry.

For further information please contact:

DANIEL GSCHWIND – qtic – 0419 219 795

Frances kinman/ ASHLEIGH STALLARD – BBS – (07) 3221 6711 or 0434 519 812

Tourism Floodgates open - Tourism Queensland

Two hundred Queensland tourism operators will set off from Brisbane by bus today on the Queensland on Tour road show through New South Wales and Victoria as part of the joint Federal and State Governments' $12 million tourism recovery funding package.
Federal Tourism Minister Martin Ferguson and Queensland Minister for Tourism Jan Jarratt said the five day interstate road show would enable Queensland tourism businesses to personally deliver the message that Nothing Beats Queensland for a holiday.

The roadshow has been coordinated by Tourism Queensland and Tourism Australia with the support of Qantas, Stonestreet’s Coaches, Accor Hotels and Queensland Rail Travel.

"The Queensland on Tour road show will roll into towns from Ballina to Bendigo and Wagga Wagga through to Wollongong personally promoting a range of Queensland holiday deals and giveaways," Minister Ferguson said.

"The 200 tourism operators represent the 14 regions of Queensland and include business owners and marketing or sales managers from some of Queensland's largest hotels, through to smaller B&Bs and family-run tour companies.

"Surf schools from the Gold Coast, wineries from Toowoomba, whale watching companies from the Fraser Coast, sailing businesses in the Whitsundays, island resorts from the Tropical North and iconic Outback attractions are just some of the tourism businesses on the road show," Minister Ferguson said.

"It's a great opportunity for those who live and work in Queensland's tourism industry to tell visitors that Nothing Beats Queensland," said Senator Jan McLucas, who represented the Australian Government at the Brisbane launch today.

"Images of flood and cyclone affected Queensland communities were beamed across Australia just a few months ago, so it is critical we continue to show that we're open for business and are welcoming visitors," Senator McLucas said.

"Queensland is one of Australia's favourite holiday spots and as temperatures in the southern states continue to drop, the road show will arrive in regional centres in New South Wales and Victoria and encourage people to head north to take advantage of Queensland's warmer winters."

Senator McLucas said the road show is a recovery initiative that was open to businesses from all sectors of the industry and will help connect participants with a network of interstate trade contacts, media and potential visitors.
The group converged on Brisbane today to interact with travel agents and potential visitors.

"Queensland on Tour is an important component of the overall Nothing Beats Queensland recovery strategy, designed to personally deliver the message to book a Queensland holiday now to support the 115,000 tourism-related businesses in Queensland," Ms Jarratt said.

"Four separate groups will depart Brisbane, criss-crossing New South Wales and Victoria to reinforce the message that Nothing Beats Queensland and encouraging people along the way to book a Queensland holiday," Ms Jarratt said.
"This Queensland on Tour road show will take Queenslanders to our potential holidaymakers and tell them in person that Queensland's tourism destinations have recovered from the floods and cyclones and we're ready to welcome them with open arms," Ms Jarratt said.

"The domestic visitor market for Queensland is the state's bread and butter with Queensland annually welcoming 16.6 million domestic visitors who spend around $11.5 billion during their visits.

"In recent months Tourism Australia and Tourism Queensland have been working hard to spread the message far and wide that Queensland is open for business and those efforts seem to be working, with operators on the Gold Coast, Townsville and Magnetic Island reporting strong Easter trading," Minister Ferguson said.

Dubbo
6 May 2011

Fifty Queensland tourism representatives rolled into Dubbo today to personally deliver the message that Nothing Beats Queensland as Australia’s favourite holiday destination.

Tourism Queensland CEO Anthony Hayes said the group formed part of the Queensland on Tour roadshow, the single largest domestic tourism roadshow in decades, comprising 200 Queensland tourism participants who are spending five days touring NSW and Victoria.

“The participating tourism businesses represent Gold Coast surf schools, South Burnett wineries, whale watching companies from the Fraser Coast, sailing businesses in the Whitsundays, island resorts from the Tropical North and iconic Outback attractions just to name a few,” Mr Hayes said.

Tourism floodgates open

06 May, 2011 04:00 AM

Fifty Queensland tourism representatives rolled into Dubbo last night to personally deliver the message that “Nothing Beats Queensland” as Australia’s favourite holiday destination.

The group was formed to demonstrate the state was bouncing back after disastrous flooding and cyclone damage.

“We are open and ready to welcome visitors," Tourism Queensland representative Emma Croft said.
After arriving on a brightly banded bus the group met with local travel agents before preparing to “meet and greet” Dubbo locals at the Church Street rotunda between eight and nine o’clock this morning.

“The roadshow crew pulled into Dubbo late yesterday on brightly branded Queensland coaches before meeting with local travel agents and spent this morning inviting local residents to Queensland.

“They were also in town to promote a range of Queensland holiday deals and giveaways for Dubbo residents the old fashioned way – by taking the message to them in person.

“The roadshow is a recovery initiative that lets those who live and work in Queensland’s tourism industry tell visitors that Nothing Beats Queensland - as Australia’s favourite holiday spot and nothing beats Queenslanders’ resilience and confidence in the future.”

Mr Hayes said four separate groups departed Brisbane on Tuesday tasked with encouraging Queensland’s southern neighbours to book a Queensland holiday along the way.

“The group has travelled through Brisbane, Ballina and Tamworth before arriving in Dubbo spreading the message along the way that Queensland is ready to welcome visitors and will pull attend the Caravan and Camping Show in Sydney tomorrow,” he said.

“These days we are used to researching our next holiday on the internet or at a travel agent where we don’t actually get to meet the locals until we get to our holiday destination.

“This is our way of taking a bit of Queensland ‘shine’ to our visitors before they arrive.”

Mr Hayes said Queensland had a rough start to the year, but the state was bouncing back with Easter proving to be a return in confidence for the state’s tourism industry.

“Our focus is now on continuing the momentum we’ve been building through the Nothing Beats Queensland recovery campaign to help Queensland’s tourism industry through the traditionally slower post-Easter period,” he said.

Mr Hayes said the Queensland on Tour roadshow was another initiative that formed part of the joint State and Federal Government’s $12 million tourism recovery funding package.

“The roadshow complements a range of other recovery initiatives rolled out in recent months including the global media tour we held in March with 200 journalists from around the world and the aggressive Nothing Beats Queensland marketing campaign currently rolling out around Australia,” he said.

“The roadshow has been coordinated by Tourism Queensland and Tourism Australia with the support of Qantas, Stonestreet’s Coaches, Accor Hotels and Queensland Rail Travel,” he said.

“Queensland annually welcomes approximately 16 million domestic visitors who spend around $11.4 billion on their visits, so it’s imperative that we continue to encourage Aussies to enjoy a holiday in Queensland, Where Australia Shines.”

Two hundred Queensland tourism operators will set out on a Queensland on Tour Roadshow through New South Wales and Victoria next month.

The roadshow is part of the joint State and Federal Governments AUD12 million tourism recovery funding package.

In a joint statement, Federal Tourism Minister Martin Ferguson, Queensland Senator Jan McLucas and Queensland Minister for Tourism, Manufacturing and Small Business, Jan Jarratt, said the five day road-show would help stimulate travel to Queensland from the domestic market.

“Interest in international visitors often overshadows the fact that domestic travel actually makes up 75% of the total tourism market, which is why the Queensland on Tour- Roadshow initiative has the potential to be so effective,” Ferguson said.

“The Australian Tourism Exchange [which ended in Sydney last week] is about bringing international buyers to meet international sellers – the roadshow will complement this activity by taking domestic sellers to domestic buyers including travel agents and interstate consumers.”

The 200 tourism operators represent wineries, attractions, tour and event companies and accommodation providers throughout the 14 regions of Queensland. They will be bussed down the East Coast courtesy of Stonestreet’s Coaches from Toowoomba on their journey as part of a AUD4.5 million interstate marketing campaign to spread the message that Queensland is open for business.

“The Australian and Queensland Governments have worked closely to help Queensland’s $9.2 billion tourism industry recover from the summer floods and cyclone and reinforce that Nothing Beats Queensland for a holiday,” Ferguson said.

“The message has been spread far and wide including through print and online advertising, a radio blitz in China, a state tour with 200 international journalists and the Foreign Minister’s support this week with a visit to the State by Canberra’s diplomatic corps.”

The roadshow participants will arrive in Brisbane on Tuesday 3 May and divide into four groups, two of which will travel south east and west visiting a range of regional centres on course for Sydney.

The other two groups will fly with tour partner Qantas directly to Melbourne and drive north before all four meet at the Caravan and Camping Show in Sydney on Saturday 7 May. Accommodation along the journey has been generously provided by Accor Hotels.

Ms Jarratt said some 115,000 tourism-related businesses operated in Queensland and it was essential to help them get back on their feet as quickly as possible.
“The recovery effort is in full swing and I think it’s fair to say that the world now knows nothing beats the resilience of Queensland’s tourism industry or Queensland as a destination,” she said.

“This roadshow is an important component of our recovery strategy, designed to personally deliver the message that to Aussies to book a Queensland holiday now to support the state’s $9.2 billion tourism industry

Nothing Beats Qld's New Slogan?

The new slogan 'NOTHING beats Queensland', is aimed at reviving the state's ailing tourism industry following a summer of floods and cyclones.

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh announced the new campaign to attract visitors back to the sunshine state, in parliament on Wednesday.

"Over the next few weeks, Queensland will be everywhere," she told parliament.

"Nothing beats Queensland is the message that will be promoted to Australia and the world as part of this tourism strategy.

"The campaign will harness the unbeatable Queensland spirit.

"Just as these disasters have not beaten us ... we aim to tell the world that nothing beats Queensland, nothing beats our beaches, nothing beats our rainforest, nothing beats our Great Barrier Reef and nothing beats a Queensland holiday."

She said the tourism campaign would be one of the biggest Australia has ever seen.

Ms Bligh said the campaign was part of a joint state and federal government $10 million package.

She said the campaign would target domestic and international media to publicise that Queensland is open for business despite a harrowing summer of disasters.

A "social networking blitz" on sites such as Facebook and YouTube would be used to drive up tourism numbers, Ms Bligh said.

An interstate marketing campaign worth $4.5 million aimed at attracting visitors over the Easter holiday period was also part of the package.

Another element of the campaign was encouraging Queenslanders to holiday at home, she said.

March 2011 - The Queensland Times

Queensland's Million Dollar Memo: best incentive in the world?

Following months of speculation, Tourism Queensland has finally revealed its A$6.9 million global campaign "Million Dollar Memo" designed to lure businesses to compete to win A$1 million in tailor made incentive experiences to use throughout the State.

Due to the State's flooding and cyclone disasters earlier this year, the 18 months in planning campaign was set to launch at AIME last month but was postponed and instead launched via Channel Nine's Today Show in Gold Coast's Palazzo Versace Hotel by Premier Anna Bligh.

Focussing on growing its incentives market, Ms Bligh said there was plenty of room to increase its current $334 million MICE market, who spend an average 2.5 times more than regular travellers.

"Every year companies invest billions of dollars in corporate reward holidays for their staff," Ms Bligh said.

"This is a global competition and ultimately we want to increase our incentive market not just now, but forever."

Million Dollar Memo is open to any company with 3 or more staff and requires teams to present a 1 minute video of why they think their company is a great place to work and why Queensland would be the ultimate reward destination.

With the tagline, "Did you get the Million Dollar Memo", the advertising campaign pitches Company vs Company, Brand vs Brand, Workplace vs Workplace.

Partnering with Tourism Queensland, Queensland Government, The convention bureau and Virgin Blue, the campaign comes after the State's hugely successful "Best Job in the World" marketing ploy.

"This is a very exciting moment for us, Queensland will always be the leisure capital, it's now time to broaden our tourism scope," Tourism Queensland, CEO, Anthony Hayes said.

Minister for Tourism, Manufacturing and Small Business, Jan Jarratt said the four-year global campaign aims to position Queensland as an incentive destination tapping into the lucrative market.

"In the 12 months to September 2010, 1.7 million Australian and international visitors undertook an incentive experience in Australia and spent over $1 billion," she said.

"Not only is this campaign going to be a great boost for the Queensland Tourism Industry we're also telling the business world that beautiful Queensland is open to visitors."

Million Dollar Memo is officially open to applications, and will close on May 1, with a 50 company shortlist revealed by August which will be dropped to just 20 companies and will also include a visitor vote wildcard. A representative from each of the 20 companies will visit Queensland and taken on a special incentive journey, while the final winner will be announced on August 31.

Applications will be presented online, and Mr Hayes expects the campaign, similarly to the Best Job, will go viral in countries where Tourism Queensland have no representation office.

Mr Hayes and Ms Bligh said the judging panel, which has yet to be revealed, will be focussing on finding companies which represent the "X Factor", and puts every business from small to large corporations on equal footing despite any range of amateur or professional production videos submitted.

Ms Bligh said that whilst the Best Job focussed on individual applications which may have deterred entries, Million Dollar Memo relies on a group effort which can also be used as a team building exercise.

"We expect to see some very fierce competition but a lot of fun too. People are creative and want to get involved. Subliminally of course, the message we are also sending is Queensland is open for business," Ms Bligh said.

The winning company will be given free range to design any type of incentive trip, to be used within 12 months, for any amount of staff totalling A$1 million. The budget is not expected to be taken from Queensland Government, according to Ms Bligh, as numerous tourism operators have approached the task force offering support for the campaign.

"The million dollars will be contributed by tourism operators, but quite possibly we expect very little to come from Government spending," she said.

For more information or to enter, visit www.milliondollarmemo.com

(Source: eTravelBlackboard 18th March 2011)

Chinese visitors to fly direct to Queensland - Queensland Hotels

For the first time in more than a decade, Chinese visitors will be able to fly direct to Queensland thanks to a deal brokered by Tourism Queensland, Brisbane Airport Corporation and China Southern Airlines.

The first Chinese passengers to fly direct to Queensland since 1997 will arrive in Brisbane later this year, opening the door to a potential extra 3600 Chinese travellers a month.

To promote the new flights, Tourism Queensland will partner with Tourism Australia and China Southern Airlines in a $520,000 campaign which will see images of Queensland on outdoor screens in Shanghai and on the sides of buses and trains.

Previously Chinese visitors had to transit through Sydney or Melbourne to get to Queensland so providing the option for Chinese travellers to fly direct into Brisbane and easily connect to a range of Queensland destinations allows them to bypass the southern states and spend more time and money in Queensland.