‘Tasmania, we're coming for you': 20-year tourism plan to make Queensland No.1
The Crisafulli government has announced a 20-year plan for the tourism industry, with the state's tourism minister suggesting Queensland would rival destinations such as Tasmania and New Zealand by 2045.
Destination 2045: Queensland's Tourism Future includes six strategic priorities to build Queensland's tourism industry, with plans to expand ecotourism, attract world-class events, create a fund to entice direct flights to new markets, rejuvenate the Great Barrier Reef islands and boost marketing.
The first 45 ecotourism projects to be delivered include the Thorsborne Trail on Hinchinbrook Island; the Wangetti Trail, north of Cairns; the Whitsunday Skyway in Airlie Beach; the Ngaro Trail on Whitsunday Island; and upgrades of day use areas in Lake Eacham and Springbrook National Park.
The LNP government opened public consultation for Destination 2045 in December.
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On Monday, Premier David Crisafulli and Minister for the Environment and Tourism Andrew Powell unveiled the resulting plan, calling it 'a visionary roadmap to supercharge the state's industry into a new era of growth, innovation and global leadership'.
'We know we live in an amazing part of the world, and what this is about is unlocking opportunities for people to deliver a tourism product and for people to be able to work in the industry as we open up this great state to the globe,' Crisafulli said.
India has been identified as a 'burgeoning market' for Queensland to tap into. 'And the best way to we can do that is by bringing a direct flight into Brisbane,' Crisafulli said.
Powell said the focus on ecotourism would promote visitation and conservation of unspoilt natural areas.
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