June 29, 2017
Toowoomba Regional Council has announced it will continue to support the embattled Southern Queensland Country Regional Tourism Organisation (SQCT).
“Council will continue to work with the Regional Tourism Organisation, Southern Queensland Country Tourism, along with local tourism groups to promote the region as a four season destination for families and visitors,” Environment and Community Committee chair Cr Geoff McDonald said on Thursday.
“Officers will explore the potential to collaborate with tourism groups to harness any promotion opportunities that will attract visitors from new or existing markets.”
The announcement could come as a disappointment to tourism operators who are dissatisfied with SQCT’s performance.
On Thursday, Granite Belt tourism operators called into question claims made by SQCT last week that tourism spending had hit a record high over the past 12 months.
In an interview with the Warwick Daily News, Stanthorpe and Granite Belt Chamber of Commerce president John Bylicki said some anecdotal information he had received was at odds with the survey results.
Several Granite Belt tourism operators the News approached also called the results into question.
South Burnett tourism operators spoken to by southburnett.com.au have also been sceptical of SQCT’s claims.
They said they would like to see specific data for the South Burnett instead of aggregated data for the entire SQCT region.
On Monday, South Burnett Mayor Keith Campbell added more fuel to the fire when he revealed in his Budget speech that revenues at Lake Boondooma and Yallakool had fallen by $225,000 in the past year.
Mayor Campbell said he would be reviewing Council’s role in tourism, including a decision on its membership of SQCT and future funding models for local tourism organisations.
In January, Toowoomba businessman John Wagner gave vent to the frustrations felt by some tourism operators when he blasted SQCT as an “absolute joke” and a “disgrace”.
Mr Wagner is the high-profile developer and owner of Wellcamp Airport.
Toowoomba Mayor Paul Antonio said at the time he welcomed discussion about tourism growth, and thought the timing of Mr Wagner’s comments was right.
He was backed by Cr McDonald, who said Toowoomba Regional Council was looking at a number of models in support of the tourism sector and these would be considered ahead of Budget deliberations for the 2017-18 financial year.
Mr Wagner then went on to set up the breakaway Darling Downs Tourism Local Tourism Organisation in May.
A group of tourist operators in the South Burnett are also in the process of setting up a local tourism organisation, and have held discussions with the South Burnett Regional Council about it.
Both groups would like to see councils rechannel some or all of the funding they give SQCT into local tourism organisations, which they think would be more effective.
It is believed the South Burnett Regional Council currently contributes about $60,000 a year to help fund SQCT, and Toowoomba Regional Council is thought to contribute $300,000.
SQCT also receives funding from Southern Downs, Goondiwindi and Western Downs Regional Councils and Balonne Shire Council, along with smaller amounts from tourism operators who take up memberships.
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