Ekka long weekend brings tourism bonanza to region
TOWNS across the Darling Downs are set to see a boost in tourism this weekend, as people make their way out west for the Ekka public holiday.
Toowoomba
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TOWNS across the Darling Downs are set to see a boost in tourism this weekend, as people make their way out west for the Ekka public holiday.
Southern Queensland Country is one of the many regions reporting near full capacity as a result of the State's new Good to Go campaign and the Ekka public holiday moving to Friday.
Southern Queensland Country Tourism CEO Peter Homan said the long weekend would be a huge boost to the industry.
"Tourism operators across the Southern Queensland Country region are already booked out for the long weekend, with areas including the Granite Belt, Bunya Mountains and much of Toowoomba showing bookings that exceed the same period for last year," Mr Homan said.
"Inquiries at caravan parks across the region have also been strong as travellers take advantage of an extended weekend in our beautiful part of Queensland."
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said shifting the holiday and creating a new long weekend in south-east Queensland was aimed at helping tourism operators as they recovered from the impacts of COVID-19.
"These long weekends pump millions of dollars into our economy - by giving Queenslanders an extended break over the Ekka weekend more much needed cash is being injected into thousands of struggling tourism businesses," Ms Palaszczuk said.
"The current feedback on holiday bookings we are getting from operators is just what we wanted to hear.
"On the Granite Belt, operators are delighted at the strong forward bookings, not only for the long weekend but through to the September school holidays."