January 24, 2013

Southern Queensland Country Tourism – the regional organisation formed last year charged with marketing the South Burnett – has launched a new video and website in a bid to attract more visitors to the region.

The “Southern Queensland Country” promotional area takes in the former tourism regions of Toowoomba, the Golden West, South Burnett, Southern Downs and the Granite Belt.

The new SQCT website also has information available for tourism businesses interested in becoming “partners” with the organisation.

Businesses can become Marketing, Events or Regional Flavours “partners” at different levels for different costs. There are also packages available for industry supporters, community associations and not-for-profit organisations.

This replaces the former “membership” structure of the former regional tourism organisation.

Costs to become partners range from $210 (+GST) to $1100 (+GST).

For example, an Events Partner (Level 2) will pay $800 (+GST).

For this, the event will be listed in the SQCT events newsletter and calendar, will be featured in an SQCT E-newsletter, receive two mentions on Facebook and Twitter, and a “tile” promoting the event can be booked into the SQCT website.

Assistance will also be provided with the production and distribution of one media release and two people will be invited to attend a two-hour digital marketing and social media training workshop.

This is on top of regular SQCT benefits such as receiving their fortnightly industry email newsletter, a hyperlinked listing on the SQCT website, voting rights at the SQCT AGM and invitations to attend Tourism Advisory Group meetings.

SQCT is currently conducting a summer campaign to encourage Brisbane families to discover a relaxing summer country escape before the end of the school holidays.

It began on January 6 and will conclude on February 16; it is running in print, on radio and in social media and aims to direct visitors to the new website.