Major re-openings augur well for Coast tourism

THERE’S definitely a greater feeling of optimism in the air for the local tourism sector.

Maleny Botanic Gardens and Bird World general manager Gareth Shipp.

THERE’S definitely a greater feeling of optimism in the air for the local tourism sector.

The relaunch of major attractions such as Maleny Botanic Gardens and Bird World and the Mary Valley Rattler this weekend will significantly boost tourism in the hinterland and Gympie areas respectively.

This will directly benefit accommodation, restaurants, shops and a whole range of other local businesses. Then on Sunday, the new runway will open at Sunshine Coast Airport, bringing with it exciting tourism potential for the region. Of course, we are a long way from being back to full capacity, with many operators facing a difficult winter as a result of losing significant amounts of business from the southern states and the New Zealand markets, which are usually strong in these months.

But we had good news from the State Government and Tourism and Events Queensland with the release of the Good to Go promotional campaign across Queensland, and also special funding for three of our major attractions – Australia Zoo, Sea Life and Aussie World – to cover their considerable operational costs during COVID-19 closures.

You may have read about a letter sent to the Premier last week from the Sunshine Coast Mayor and myself, calling for more equitable funding of tourism marketing across Queensland’s regions.

Last year, the Coast achieved Queensland’s fastest growth rate for visitor numbers and expenditure, but we shouldn’t be punished for our success. The virus has devastated local operators, and many are likely to suffer their worst six months ever.

While we are appreciative of support for major tourism attractions, what the region needs most of all is additional marketing funds. The State Government provided additional funding of $2.4 million each to Gold Coast and Tropical North Queensland so they could market locally as a result of losing their international markets. But given that all the regions are restricted in their marketing to just Queensland residents, that puts us at a huge disadvantage. I think we all agree that the Sunshine Coast is one of Queensland’s most attractive holiday destinations, but with our competitors’ vastly increased marketing spend, we will struggle to be heard in a crowded marketplace.

Originally published as