The plan was formulated in conjunction with the five councils in the region, including Townsville, the Burdekin, Hinchinbrook, Charters Towers, and Palm Island, and more than 160 local business operators.

Townsville Enterprise tourism and events director Lisa Woolfe said the organisation predicted the next decade would be an “integral period for the region”.

“Townsville North Queensland has grown a reputation for offering globally competitive experiences and unique destinations found within our beautiful natural landscapes,” she said.

“That, accompanied with the global trend of eco-tourism and sustainable travel, makes the next phase in our industry an exciting one.”

Ms Woolfe said tourism contributed more than $1.26 billion to the regional economy each year and was one of the top employing industries.

It comes as a Townsville Enterprise commissioned report revealed Magnetic Island’s tourism industry injected more than $200 million into the regional economy last financial year.

TOP 10 TOURISM ‘GAME-CHANGERS’

Reef HQ Great Barrier Reef Aquarium redevelopment

The existing Reef HQ, home to the world’s largest living coral reef exhibit, welcomes about 140,000 visitors a year but many of its facilities and infrastructure is “beyond end-of-life”. Developments surrounding Reef HQ, including the $52.5 million Marine Tourism Precinct, make it look “outdated in contrast”. Townsville Enterprise said it is still seeking funding for the $80 million project which would create about 170 jobs.

Townsville Marine Tourism Precinct

The Townsville Marine Tourism Precinct, a joint venture between SeaLink and Honeycombes Property Group, will have a 90-room four-star hotel, food precinct, new ferry terminal and two high-speed ferries for Magnetic Island and Palm Island. Townsville Enterprise reckons this spur 200,000 extra visitors to Townsville, generate $28.7 million for local businesses and boost the GRP by $13.1 million

Museum of Underwater Art (MOUA)

Expected to attract up to 50,000 visitors a year, the three-stage Museum of Underwater Art, according to Townsville Enterprise, will generate $20 million in economic output during construction and $42 million during operation. The Strand, John Brewer Reef, and Palm Island sections of the project are underway while funding is still being sought for the Magnetic Island stage.

Year-round major events

With the growth recently seen in the events sector and development of new event facilities such as the North Queensland Stadium, Townsville Enterprise believes there is an opportunity to take a strategic approach to acquiring and developing a “major events calendar”.

The North Australian Festival of Arts, for example, injected $4.1 million into the local economy during July.

Multi-Day Eco Trail Development

The development of a multi-day hiking and mountain biking trail in collaboration with traditional owners and local communities would unlock “significant economic and tourism benefits” and be a driver of both domestic and international visitation. It is expected the project would attract 25,000 to 65,000 visitor nights a year, though funding is still being sought for a business case.

DriveIt NQ

The DriveIt NQ precinct will address the need to support driver education and motorsport in Townsville.

For tourism, this project will enhance Townsville’s profile as a motorsport events destination, building on the success of the annual Townsville Supercars.

It could potentially generate economic benefits of more than $22.7 million.

North Queensland Country Club Resort and Equestrian Centre

The North Queensland Country Club Resort and Equestrian Centre at Toolakea Beach would create hundreds of jobs during construction and could draw in 240,000 visitors per year in its first stage.

The resort will be located on 440ha of coastal lands located in Toolakea. Proponent Landmark Projects is currently going through the Environmental Impact Statement stage with the State Government.

Walking trail development — Magnetic Island

Magnetic Island Forts walk is currently the “most visited National Park” in North Queensland, according to Townsville Enterprise, with more than 100,000 visitors per annum.

But the trail network is not well linked and treated as individual pathways and bush walking tracks. The redevelopment of this is necessary but is not yet funded.

Kernow Charters Towers

The $50 million conversion of a large psychiatric hospital in the outskirts of Charters Towers into a sophisticated tourism report is expected to employ more than 50 people once operational.

The Cromarty Wetlands/Wongaloo Conservation Park

The bird spotting tourist market is rapidly growing, according to Townsville Enterprise, with an increase number of them travelling to long haul destinations to spot new birds that can’t be seen in their own backyards.

The Cromarty Wetlands, in the Burdekin, are famous for its diversity of wildlife and the project would drive visitation to the Wongaloo Conservation Park, an area said to rival Kakadu National Park with respect to ecological diversity and birdlife.