In this edition:
Industry opportunities
Quick snippets
Industry gongs
People on the move
Events
G'day! Enjoy your stay! Good news story
$3 million in grants up for grabs for tourism projects
$3 million in contestable grant funding is up for grabs for a range of tourism projects across the state. The Queensland Tourism Network Grant Scheme has allocated $3 million over the next three years, with grants available to a range of not-for-profit tourism groups including regional and local tourism organisations, local government tourism departments and divisions, and tourism associations that are members of the Queensland Tourism Industry Council. There are no minimum or maximum grant amounts that tourism organisations can apply for and submissions will be assessed on the value of the project to their overall region or to the state. There are two main categories for eligible projects - those associated with implementing mergers between tourism organisations; and for tourism organisations who collaborate on new marketing, industry and/or product development projects. Applications close 9 April for category one applications and 7 May for category two applications. For guidelines and application forms, click here.
Chinese visitors buoy Queensland's international tourism market
New figures for the year ended December 2009 reveal that Chinese visitors to Queensland increased by 16% and are spending more, becoming the fourth highest spending market. The figures from Tourism Research Australia's International Visitor Survey show that the global financial crisis had continued to impact international travel to Queensland with a decrease of 4% over the year. The decrease was heavily influenced by the ongoing decline from the Japanese market which continues to be affected by a range of factors, including the economic downturn, consumer confidence and swine flu. More positively, Japanese visitors to the Gold Coast and the Whitsundays increased. Visitors from Germany, France and Taiwan saw an increase to the state as did backpackers to Queensland, particularly out of the UK and Europe. To see the International Visitor Survey results for Queensland click here.
Queensland tourism operators take Queensland on Tour to China
A group of 25 tourism operators has taken a slice of Queensland sunshine to China to promote Queensland to one of the state's key markets. The Queensland on Tour trade mission will bring together operators from Cairns, Whitsundays, Brisbane and the Gold Coast with some of China's most influential travel wholesalers, retail agents, airlines and key decision-makers. The delegates arrived in China on Monday, and will take part in a series of workshop events in Shanghai and Lijiang. Chinese visitors are spending more than ever, contributing $287 million to the Queensland economy in the year to December 2009, 35% more than the previous year.
Indian Tourism Ambassador flies the flag for Queensland
Indian-based Queensland Tourism Ambassador and former Best Job in the World candidate Anjaan has been in Queensland this week to show a group of Indian tourism executives Queensland's holiday hotspots. Anjaan’s role as a Queensland tourism ambassador is to spread goodwill between Australia and India. During the week-long familiarisation of South East Queensland, the VIP guests have been visiting everything from Australia Zoo on the Sunshine Coast through to the Australian Outback Spectacular on the Gold Coast. Since being appointed, Anjaan has been busy flying the flag for Queensland at Queensland on Tour events where he addressed approximately 400 Indian travel agents in Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore.
Where's Ben this week?
Queensland’s Tourism Ambassador Ben Southall has teamed up with Anjaan, another Best Job in the World Top 16 candidate this week to welcome a group of Indian tourism executives to Queensland. To end the week Ben is heading west to Queensland’s Outback to help launch a new tourism initiative for the region.
For more updates and details on Ben's as a Queensland Tourism Ambassador visit - www.islandreefjob.com
More news
For the latest media releases from Queensland Tourism Minister Peter Lawlor, click here.
Industry opportunities
- NEW! Australian Tourism Exchange preferences closing soon!
A reminder for industry attending ATE that Eastern preferences open on Thursday 11 March and close Thursday 25 March. Western preferences open Tuesday 16 March and close on Tuesday 30 March. Log into Tourism Australia's trade events website to update your schedule for ATE10. Don't leave it too late! www.tradeevents.australia.com
- NEW! Tourism industry associations surveys to set environmental benchmark – 15 March
Tourism Queensland is conducting a Social and Environmental Indicators Study from next week. Monitoring these indicators can lead to opportunities in a climate where consumers' environmental-conscience plays an ever growing role in holiday decisionmaking. No other state is currently providing their tourism industry with benchmark setting for these indicators. Tourism associations will be contacted by market research firm Colmar Brunton to complete a five minute phone survey and all responses remain anonymous. Once collated the results will be made available on www.tq.com.au early next financial year. There are no right or wrong answers - the aim of the research is to set a benchmark. The survey will start on Monday 15 March. Contact Simone Bennett on +61 7 3535 5016 for further information.
- NEW! lastminute.com.au Industry Presentation in Whitsundays -17 March
The Whitsundays team at Tourism Queensland will be hosting lastminute.com.au for an industry presentation in Airlie Beach on Wednesday 17 March. lastminute.com.au is Australia's third most popular online travel agency, according to Hitwise and sells a unique combination of hotels, flights, experiences and holiday packages, plus car hire, travel insurance and gifts. The presentation will provide operators with information required to partner with lastminute.com.au for the next Whitsundays campaign planned for June 2010. The information evening will be held at Coral Sea Resort, please contact Luke McCaul by Friday 12 March to RSVP and for all enquiries.
- NEW! GRIP Domestic Ready Workshops - 24 March
Do you need help with social media strategies, commission structures and are you ready to tackle product packaging and bundling? Tourism Queensland and Tourism Sunshine Coast are holding coastal and hinterland workshops focused on the domestic market. Download the workshop outlines and registration forms for Hinterland and Coastal industry. Four participants will be selected to participate in Tourism Sunshine Coast's 2010 subsidised trade marketing support program. Click here for details. RSVP to Kate Cash; Tel: +61 7 5458 8810
- NEW! Images that sell stories workshop – 25 March
The Australian Society of Travel Writers is taking bookings for a full-day workshop held at Tourism Queensland House in Brisbane. The workshop outlines camera function, photography jargon, important composition skills and more. Becoming a creative photographer gives you an edge in today’s ever changing media world. Working with two professional photographers you will gain an insight into the world through a photographer’s ‘eye’. There will be one SLR digital camera available for loan on the day – a try-before-you-buy if you are thinking of upgrading. To register you interest please contact Mike Lillie on +61 2 9807 1564.
- NEW! Australian Regional Tourism Convention - 16 August
Early Bird Registrations are now open for the 2010 Australian Regional Tourism Convention in Victoria in August. The program which features industry presenters, exclusive field trip experiences and opportunities to network will be released soon. Earlybird rates are now available until 26 March. To read more and to register click here.
- Indian Cultural Workshop - 17 March
QTIC and cross-cultural customer service experts TravConsult will hold an Indian Cultural Workshop in Brisbane on Wednesday 17 March to help industry learn more about the Indian market. Registrations close 12 March. For more information contact Sharon Galloway, +61 7 3236 1445.
- Tourism Week in Mackay – 22–26 March
Industry operators are encouraged to be part of Tourism Week in Mackay from 22 to 26 March. There are many activities planned throughout the week including the Tourism and Hospitality Expo, Flavour of Mackay Cocktail Party, the Annual Tourism Conference, Regional Tourism Awards and an Industry Dinner. Click here or call +61 7 4944 5888 for more information.
- Tourism Queensland’s Research Insights 2010 - 25 March
Tourism Queensland Research Insights 2010 will be held on March 25 at 10.00am in Warwick and 1.30pm in Toowoomba. This ‘state of the nation’ style two-hour workshop program will provide relevant and insightful information for stakeholders and the chance to discuss what the latest findings mean for the region and the opportunities and threats these pose. Key themes include: TQ’s research data sources and how they can be utilised, how the tourism industry has weathered the GFC, how source markets fared during the GFC and which are now showing signs of recovery. To register, contact Adelaida Hadzic at Tourism Queensland, +61 7 3535 5470.
Quick snippets
- More than 11 million Chinese per day will be able to read about South East Queensland's ecotourism attractions following a visit by a journalist from China's most popular online travel website last week. A writer for Sohu.com joined writers from five other major Asian newspapers and magazines on a joint Tourism Queensland and Tourism Australia "Travel Green" media tour exploring the region's national parks, beaches and food and wine experiences. The tour raised awareness of Queensland as a holiday destination in the important markets of China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
- McDonald's stores in Bundaberg, Hervey Bay and Gympie are offering a ‘$1.75 Turtle Sundae’, donating 50 cents from each Sundae to help buy the state-of-the-art satellite tracking equipment for the turtles on Mon Repos. To keep up-to-date with the latest turtle activity, check out the Turtle Experience Bundaberg Facebook page and the @turtlesbundaberg twitter account.
- There are only three weeks left to nominate remarkable Queenslanders or groups for a Queensland Greats Award. Queensland Greats have traditionally come from a wide variety of fields and pursuits so all Queenslanders are encouraged to nominate a friend, colleague, family member, community leader, well known individual or institution that they believe has made a significant contribution to Queensland. Nomination forms are available online at www.queenslandweek.qld.gov.au or by calling +61 7 3405 5215.
- The ‘Back to Birdsville’ Easter celebrations have been postponed until October, due to flooding in the area. The 22-24 October weekend will take on the same format as it would have at Easter. Registrations will stay open on the website www.theoutback.com.au for more informtion contact Karen Brook or Leah Gilmore on +61 7 4654 2364.
- Southern Downs & Granite Belt Regional Tourism has launched its autumn campaign with a fan page on Facebook. To become a fan of the Southern Downs & Granite Belt Region on Facebook follow the link from the home page of www.southerndownsholidays.com.au or log into your Facebook account and search for Southern Downs & Granite Belt.
Industry gongs
- Tourism Queensland won three awards at the Australian Interactive Marketing Industry Association (AIMIA) Awards on Friday 5 March 2010, they were:
*Best Cross Platform
*Best Tourism or Travel
*Best of the Best
- Best Job in the World for Tourism Queensland, by SapientNitro Brisbane picked up Ad Campaign of the Year 2009 in the AdNews Awards 2009.
People on the move
- Tourism Queensland is recruiting a University Alliance - Greening Tourism Queensland. Applications close 12 March. For more information click here.
- Tourism Queensland is recruiting a Senior Marketing Coordinator. Applications close 13 March. For more information click here.
- Tourism Queensland is recruiting a Market Specialist. Applications close 14 March. For more information click here.
- Tourism Queensland is recruiting a Manager Market Activation. Applications close 14 March. For more information click here.
- Tourism Queensland is recruiting a Coordinator Sunshine Coast and Fraser Coast. Applications close 17 March. For more information click here.
- Adelaida Hadzic has been appointed Tourism Queensland Brisbane and South-East Queensland Country Coordinator.
- Kathryn Allen has been appointed as Tourism Development Officer at Redland City Council.
- Tourism Sunshine Coast Chief Executive Officer, Russell Mason has been selected as the inaugural Chief Executive Officer of Regional Development Australia, Sunshine Coast (RADSC).
- Amanda Moore has joined the International team as the Business Development Executive – Inbound at Traveltrain Holidays.
- James Corvan has been appointed Interim General Manager at Toowoomba and Golden West Tourism, on a temporary basis, until the end of the financial year.
- Nicole McCausland has been appointed as Manager, Membership Services at Gold Coast Tourism
For employment opportunities at Tourism Queensland please visit Opportunities at TQ.
Events
- Heart of Gold International Film Festival
11 – 14 March, Gympie
Click here for more information.
- Noosa Festival of Surfing
14 – 21 March, Noosa Heads
Click here for more information.
- Acrobatic Allstars
12 – 13 March, Stanthorpe
Click here for more information.
All events listed are sourced from the Australia Tourism Data Warehouse (ATDW). To list your event of leisure tourism potential in the ATDW and gain exposure on a broad network of consumer websites, go to www.tq.com.au/atdwevents.
G'Day! Enjoy your stay! Good news story
Sunferries in Townsville received some great feedback from a customer that travelled on one of their recent services:
"We saw the Family Island Beach Break deal from Sunferries Travel advertised on TV, came on holiday and wanted to go to Maggie Island.
The family of five deal was $160.00. It was wonderful! Saved us heaps of money and we bought friends with us. The meal was great and we hired car/mopeds and spent extra on the island to support the local businesses.
The service from Sunferries staff was fantastic and couldn’t ask for better, helpful service. Thank you for a great day at a very low cost. Will recommend to others. Keep up the great work.
Thecla White – Mount Isa."
Tourism On Q is always of the look out for good news stories that exemplify the G'day! Enjoy your stay! visitor hospitality campaign. Please share your story about going above and beyond the call of duty for a tourist by emailing Tourism On Q.
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