November 5, 2012
The visiting Cabinet ministers are taking the opportunity of their trip to Kingaroy to visit local government offices and promote various State Government initiatives.
Tourism Minister Jann Stuckey visited the Big 4 Kingaroy Holiday Caravan Park this afternoon to promote her department’s new draft Queensland Drive Tourism Strategy.
She is seeking feedback from tourist operators on the strategy which is trying to identify the strengths and the challenges that face the industry.
Ms Stuckey said the strategy aims to encourage more travellers to take a driving holiday in Queensland and position the State as a world-leading drive tourism destination.
She said Drive Tourism contributed $1.96 billion to the Queensland economy every year, with a surprising number of international tourists taking part.
Six per cent of all domestic tourists in Queensland (950,000) and 18 per cent of international visitors (360,000) are drive tourists.
The importance of drive tourism to towns such as Kingaroy cannot be over-estimated.
Ms Stuckey said every $1 of caravan park income generates $1.38 to economic activity in the local area.
Ms Frecklington said drive tourism provides significant economic benefits for the South Burnett region and the strategy would help take the sector forward.
“Our region has so much to offer the drive tourism market and we want to make sure everyone who visits feels welcome, can easily locate our popular attractions and that we have the facilities needed for an enjoyable stay,” Mrs Frecklington said.
Feedback is being sought on marketing and promotion, signage, infrastructure, accommodation and facilities, meeting consumer needs, road quality, maintenance and safety, visitor information and technology applications.
- Related article: Have Your Say On Tourism Strategy
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Police and Community Safety Minister Jack Dempsey this afternoon visited the Kingaroy Ambulance Station – which will soon be replaced a new multi-million dollar building – and Kingaroy Police Station.
He spoke about new technology being implemented into the police service and promoted the recently launched MyPolice Gympie District website.
MyPolice Gympie is being shepherded by Gympie District Crime Prevention Coordinator Senior Constable Llew O’Brien who was on had in Kingaroy to demonstrate the site which he has described as like “walking the beat” but doing it online.
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