October 16, 2012
Four “virtual visitor centres” which allow potential travellers to go online and order electronic brochures to be emailed to their inbox, or hard-copy brochures mailed to their post box, have been developed to encourage interest in inland Queensland road travel.
The new “virtual visitor centres” – for the Leichhardt Highway, Australia’s Country Way, the Adventure Way and the Great Inland Way – resemble a real visitor information centre with shelves of brochures and maps to select from.
Visitors can also be directly linked via email to real visitor information centres in Goondiwindi, Toowoomba, Roma and Cooktown.
The initiative is a partnership between the four highway committees representing inland Queensland and the RACQ. It was funded through the Queensland Tourism Network Grant Scheme administered by Tourism Queensland, and launched to the public last week.
Tourism Queensland Acting CEO, Leanne Coddington, said the virtual visitor information centres were a great example of using the latest technology to promote and link potential visitors with regional and remote Queensland attractions.
“These virtual visitor centres are fantastic news and will hopefully entice more visitors to Queensland’s regional tourism destinations, injecting money into local economies.”
The RACQ’s Executive Manager of Tourism, Andrew Millward, hopes the new service will encourage more Queenslanders to get behind the wheel and explore the state from the comfort of their car.
“We really are spoilt for choice with so much to discover in our own back yard including stunning beaches, lush rainforests, historical landmarks, and quirky attractions,” he said.
“By creating these virtual information centres, we’re making it easier for Queenslanders to discover the state’s hidden gems while at the same time helping boost tourism in regional areas.”
Chair of the Leichhardt Highway Committee, Cr David McMahon of Goondiwindi said, “This project takes the notion of a driving holiday to a new level. People in the south east corner can now plan their inland holiday with a click of their computer”.
The new virtual visitor information centres can be found on the RACQ’s website.
