'She needs to lift her game': MP says state tourism minister could do more for Whitsunday

STATE Tourism Minister Kate Jones claimed she played a vital role in the sale of South Molle Island.

South Molle Island is a picturesque, hilly island surrounded by fringing reefs. Picture: Contributed

STATE Tourism Minister Kate Jones claimed she played a vital role in the sale of South Molle Island, but Member for Whitsunday Jason Costigan believes she "needs to lift her game”.

In Parliament yesterday, Ms Jones said she met with "Mr Zhou and Mr Jiang” from China Capital Investment Group during a trip to China last year and talked about tourism opportunities within Queensland.

The Chinese investors, who already own neighbouring Daydream Island, purchased South Molle for a reported $25 million last week.

Ms Jones said she was pleased to hear they planned to rejuvenate the 188-bedroom resort on the island, believing it would boost job opportunities for those in the Mackay-Whitsunday region.

She said tourism already supported a $1.5b industry and 13,000 jobs in the region.

While Ms Jones said she was pleased to have bipartisan support from Member for Whitsunday Jason Costigan when it came to growing the tourism sector, in Parliament on Tuesday Mr Costigan said he was disappointed that in 18 months on the job Ms Jones had only visited Airlie Beach once.

"She needs to lift her game,” he said.

"The locals who are passionate about tourism need to know all about it.”

Originally published as 'She needs to lift her game': MP says state tourism minister could do more for Whitsunday