February 4, 2014
A pilot “tourism ambassador” program run in Wondai last December has proven so successful that a similar program will be rolled out in Nanango in the next few months.
The program aims to give local businesses an economic boost by instructing staff how to “sell” their town to visitors.
At Tuesday night’s South Burnett Tourism Association meeting at the Wondai Hotel and Cellars, members heard the training workshop had received an overwhelmingly positive response from the dozen local businesses who took part in December’s three-hour trial.
The program was the brainchild of Wondai Regional Art Gallery curator Elaine Madill, and was delivered by former SBRC Mayor David Carter and former Wondai Visitor Information Centre manager Noreen Brier.
Wondai businesses were asked to send along a staff member to attend the free three-hour course, and a dozen participants ranging from real estate to retailing took up the offer.
Over the course of the workshop, participants received a crash course in the attractions of Wondai, its immediate district, and the broader South Burnett.
They also received tips on the economic impact of tourism on the region; the different types of visitors the South Burnett attracts; customer service; selling; product knowledge; and working collaboratively with other businesses to encourage visitors to stay longer and spend more.
Mr Carter said while all participants graded the course “5 out of 5” on interest, relevancy, information delivery, length and venue the most surprising reaction had come from two representatives from a local business services firm.
“When they arrived we asked what they expected to get from the workshop and their expectations weren’t very high,” he said.
“They thought that in their line of work they wouldn’t run across many tourists at all. So they were slightly negative about what value they might get from the workshop.
“But by the end of the course they were amongst the most positive people there.”.
Ms Brier said that the course was modelled on a similar program the Tourism Association had run almost a decade ago.
That course was also very successful but “many things have changed and tourism is much bigger now”.
Workshop participants will receive a certificate of accomplishment and their businesses will receive an official “Tourism Ambassador” sticker to place on their shop windows next week when Southern Queensland Country CEO Mary-Clare Power visits the town.
After a short discussion, SBTA members voted to hold a second workshop in Nanango in conjunction with the Nanango Visitor Information Centre and the Nanango Tourism and Development Association in the near future.
As with Wondai, the cost of running the workshop will be paid for from SBTA funds.
The Association also hopes to hold similar workshops in Kingaroy and Murgon.
