March 16, 2013
The change of seasons will be the focus of a new $550,000 tourism marketing campaign designed to showcase Southern Queensland Country (SQC).
Tourism Minister Jann Stuckey said SQC’s autumn campaign is the largest single marketing effort launched for the region to date.
“Southern Queensland Country Tourism had teamed up with Tourism and Events Queensland and local industry to tempt city-dwellers to visit one of the state’s premier country destinations,” Ms Stuckey said.
“Autumn is a superb time to travel when the leaves are changing colour, the days are growing cooler and mouth-watering fresh local produce is on hand.
Ms Stuckey said the $550,000 campaign would be rolled out through TV, print, outdoor billboards and online.
She said the campaign was “a fantastic marketing collaboration” supported through the State Government’s Regional Tourism Organisation Contestable Grants Funding Scheme.
“Supporting tourism marketing campaigns in regions such as Southern Queensland Country will help us achieve our goal of doubling visitor expenditure from $15 billion to $30 billion by 2020,” Ms Stuckey said.
The campaign was announced at the official launch of “Autumn on James”, a three-day showcase of Southern Queensland Country in Fortitude Valley’s James Street from March 13-16.
SQC Tourism CEO Mary-Clare Power said the event encouraged city-dwellers to sample the region’s fare and experiences.
“Autumn on James” featured a boutique farmers’ market, free autumn-themed cooking classes from Masterchef winner Adam Liaw and the James Street Cooking School, farm-gate fresh produce stalls, wine tastings from local vineyards and much more,” Ms Power said.
“Bringing the country to the city is a fantastic way of showcasing all the wonderful tourism experiences awaiting holidaymakers in Southern Queensland Country.”
Video: SQC’s corporate video explains the group’s strategy to grow tourism into a $1 billion market by 2020
