Hopes tennis tournament could be next sporting tourism chance
These types of events – whether it is netball, tennis, bowling or football – bring people here … they stay longer and it supports our local hotels, restaurants and other businesses.
Fraser Coast
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The Fraser Coast Mayor is hoping a tennis tournament, bringing some of the best players to Hervey Bay this week, will be another sporting tourism win.
Senior Australian tennis players will gather in Hervey Bay, competing at Hervey Bay and District Tennis Association Tournament, from June 18 to June 20.
The youngest playing age group starts at 30, with the event covering up to over 75 year olds.
Mayor George Seymour said the event was “really important”.
“It's great for the local economy, it brings people here and it's great for the sport of tennis, for particularly children to see some of the top Australian players competing against each other here … to bring them here to inspire others and entertain and we want people to be able to aspire to compete like this right across Australia,” he said.
“These types of events – whether it is netball, tennis, bowling or football – bring people here, they stay here, they enjoy everything the Fraser Coast has to offer … They stay longer and it supports our local hotels, restaurants and other businesses.
“It‘s really important for us as a council to see people coming here and competing on our facilities and for our players to be able to compete at this level without having to travel … contributing to the cultural, social and economic development of our region.”
Hervey Bay and District Tennis Association Club Professional Luke Harvey said the tournament, which 110 people will be playing, the most attendees the tournament has seen.
“We’ve got some coming from New Zealand, New South Wales, right up far north Queensland … It’s going to be a cracker,” Luke said.
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