February 27, 2019
Accommodation providers are being encouraged to market the upcoming Wine And Food In The Park Festival to their customers as part of a new tourism promotion being organised by Visit South Burnett (VSB).
VSB president Jason Kinsella said many South Burnett motels have good business Mondays to Fridays, but can experience lower bookings on weekends.
Yet weekends are the time when most of the region’s biggest tourism-related festivals and sporting events occur.
“If we’re going to grow tourism, we need to focus on capitalising on our local events market,” Jason said.
“Most of the Monday to Friday business is commercially based and sells itself.
“So if we want to lift tourist numbers and enjoy the revenue that comes with it, we need to get out and sell our weekends.”
VSB will be partnering with accommodation operators and Wine and Food In The Park organisers to offer packages that include accommodation, special meals and entry to the festival over the March 9-10 weekend.
Some operators may also pool bookings to organise a charter bus to take guests to and from the festival.
“We’re starting with Wine and Food because it’s an iconic event and we already know from past surveys that half the people who come to it don’t live here,” Jason said.
“Naturally, we’d like to see this kind of joint promotion spread to all the other big festivals around our region, because there’s something on in the South Burnett most weekends.
“But Wine And Food In The Park is happening in 10 days, so we’re making it first cab off the rank.”
Wine and Food In The Park committee president Dafyd Martindale said he welcomed the initiative.
“We’re delighted to partner with Visit South Burnett, and we think this is a very good idea,” he said.
“Tourism works best when operators help market one another, and this sort of add-on marketing is very common in developed tourism regions.
“Our region has tremendous events all through the year that cater for every possible interest.
“So we hope other festival and sports event organisers take up the idea, too.
“We think it’s sound common sense, and it’s good for everyone.”
Accommodation providers who’d like to join the promotion can phone Jason on 0428-684-797 or email him for more details.
- The 20th annual Wine and Food In The Park will be held in Memorial Park in Haly Street, Kingaroy on Saturday, March 9 from noon to 8:00pm. Admission is $20 for adults, and under-18s are free.
Disclosure: Dafyd Martindale is co-owner of South Burnett Online
