South Sea Islander members missing from ‘Destination 2045’ tourism meeting

Tourism operators were invited to hear the government’s 20-year tourism plan for Mackay but a key voice was missing at the discussion table.

MP Nigel Dalton at a press conference at the Bluewater Quays, February 12. Photo: Luke Lay

Mackay’s South Sea Islander community have been called a potential draw card for attracting a new wave of “cultural tourists” to the region, though they were left out of a crucial meeting outlining Mackay’s 20-year plan.

Up to 90 people from the region’s tourism operators met with state ministers and councillors this month to discuss amping up Mackay’s tourism potential through the LNP’s blueprint ‘Destination 2045’.

Minister for the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation, Andrew Powell organised the event to unveil his government’s 20-year-plan to capitalise on the Olympic Games and ensure visitors stay and explore the whole state beyond Brisbane’s sporting spectacle.

In a press conference before the meeting, Local MP Nigel Dalton called on local South Sea Islander groups and operators such as the South Sea Islander Hut as a vital piece to the puzzle while pointing out tourism as becoming a more culturally immersive experience for visitors.

“We need to look at the South Sea Islander input here in Mackay which is quite significant,” he said.

“We need to think deeply into our history and also what ecotourism would look like in Mackay.”

Mackay’s South Sea Islander Hut has been held as a meeting place and historical tourist attraction since 1993

Though Auntie Marion Healy, local South Sea Islander elder and tour guide, said it wasn’t something that had been raised with her.

“I haven’t heard anything about it,” she said.

Coming back from his first full week of parliament, Mr Dalton said no attempts had been made in the past two weeks to consult with any South Sea Islander groups, though he is still determined to put the South Sea Islander hut “on the map”.

“The tourism angle is already there. The South Sea Islander hut is a place that I take my relatives to,” he said.

Turning Mackay into an Olympic training ground and connecting the city to international flights were among some of the main ideas put forward at the meeting.

Mackay Airport’s Chief Executive Officer Richard Barker said discussions of bringing international flights onto its tarmac were brought up and that he considered it a real possibility for the Games.

“International flight connectivity is dependent on a range of factors, including consumer demand for the service and demonstrating why an airline should fly to Mackay rather than direct to Brisbane, aircraft availability and the provision of Federal Government-mandated border resources,” he said.

Queensland Tourism Minister Andrew Powell has bought together hundreds of Far North Queensland tourism bosses and operators for the Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation's Destination 2045: Queensland’s Tourism Future consultation Cairns workshop, held at the Pullman Reef Hotel Casino. Picture: Brendan Radke

In a press conference, Mr Powell saw Mackay to be a major draw card during the games.

“Mackay has got an unreal track record when it comes to hosting sporting events,” he said.

“In the lead up to the Olympics, we could put an even greater spotlight on Mackay when it comes to sport.

Mr Powell also saw a change in tourist behaviour as something to look out for.

“What we are seeing with tourists is that they don’t just want to necessarily sit on the beach, go to a hotel or do a bush walk,” he said.

“They want to immerse themselves.

“The question is what can Mackay do to best position itself for domestic and international tourists.

The public have up until Friday February 28 to contribute to the Destination 2045 survey available on the state government website.

Shortly after this article was published, a spokeswoman from the Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation said the event was “promoted widely” with tourism operators and members of the community invited to register for the event.

“We encourage the Mackay South Sea Islander groups to make a submission before Friday, and to work with Mackay-Isaac Tourism if there are specific issues and or suggestions they have,” she said.

Originally published as South Sea Islander members missing from ‘Destination 2045’ tourism meeting