North Stradbroke Island taps into global tourism market with $4.5m Quandamooka cultural centre
The $4.5 million Quandamooka cultural centre on North Stradbroke Island will be Brisbane’s latest indigenous tourism drawcard for international visitors. SEE VIDEO
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AN INDIGENOUS cultural centre will be built on North Stradbroke Island to attract more international tourists to the Moreton Bay gem, with the final design to be revealed on the island on Tuesday.
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Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones will visit the island to announce $4.5 million in funding to build the Minjerribah cultural centre overlooking Deanbilla Bay.
The Quandamooka Art, Museum and Performance Institute, which will be known as QUAMPI, would share the art and culture of the Quandamooka people with a global audience, Ms Jones said.
“The centre will become a key link in southeast Queensland’s tourism landscape — connecting Meeanjin (Brisbane) to Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) in the itineraries of astute cultural tourists who we know stay longer and spend more,” Ms Jones said.
“It will also become a launch point for the unique indigenous tours and experiences available for visitors across the island.
“More than ever before, we’re seeing that tourists want a unique cultural experience when they come to Australia.”
And it will tap into the growing business tourism market, with conference and dining facilities by the waters of Deanbilla Bay, she said.
Part of the Government’s push to diversity the island’s economy as sand mining ceases, it’s expected the project will generate more than $8.5 million a year for the local economy during construction and more than $2.5 million for local businesses once up and running.
Ms Jones said it would create 37 jobs, 18 of them ongoing, and attract more than 20,000 people a year to North Stradbroke Island.
Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation (QYAC) chief executive Cameron Costello said QUAMPI would be a source of ongoing employment and pride for the community.
“Quandamooka culture is in a period of renaissance with language, traditional arts and crafts, particularly fibre art, dance and performance all thriving on Minjerribah,” he said.
“QUAMPI will be the centrepiece for Quandamooka culture, providing an authentic indigenous experience for visitors, as well as a place for our people to come together and explore and strengthen culture.”
Originally published as North Stradbroke Island taps into global tourism market with $4.5m Quandamooka cultural centre
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