{"id":179642,"date":"2017-05-29T15:17:32","date_gmt":"2017-05-29T05:17:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=179642"},"modified":"2020-09-15T12:59:20","modified_gmt":"2020-09-15T02:59:20","slug":"local-voice-on-breakaway-tourism-group","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2017\/05\/29\/local-voice-on-breakaway-tourism-group\/","title":{"rendered":"Local Voice On
Breakaway Tourism Group"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Darling Downs Tourism Board members … back row, from left, Tony Heckendorf, Isaac Moody, Eleanor Kratzmann, Russell Peters and David James (absent: Geoff Davenport); sitting, CEO Ruth Wetmore and chairman John Wagner<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

May 29, 2017<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bunya Mountains restaurant proprietor Eleanor Kratzmann has been appointed to the Board of a new breakaway tourism association formed by Toowoomba businessman John Wagner.<\/p>\n

Mr Wagner will be chairman of Darling Downs Tourism which will cover Toowoomba, Kingaroy, Goondiwindi, Stanthorpe and the Lockyer Valley.<\/p>\n

He aims to sign up at least 600 tourism businesses to the body.<\/p>\n

The establishment of the new Local Tourism Organisation (LTO) follows a falling out between the Wellcamp Airport developer and Southern Queensland Country Tourism in January.<\/p>\n

At the time, Mr Wagner slammed SQCT in the media as an \u201cabsolute joke\u201d and a \u201cdisgrace\u201d, and suggested taxpayers\u2019 and ratepayers\u2019 dollars were not being spent wisely in the region.<\/p>\n

Mr Wagner said on Monday the local tourism industry and visitors should be excited by the new organisation which was “committed to developing and promoting the Darling Downs brand”.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWe have an amazing region and the mission of Darling Downs Tourism is to promote the finest quality, authentic experiences in our local area to our visitors, while boosting the benefit to our business community,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The other Board members of the new group are Geoff Davenport (owner Happy Valley Retreat and Granite Belt Brewery, Stanthorpe), Tony Heckendorf (owner Motel Glenworth and spokesperson for Toowoomba Accommodation Providers Group), David James (company director Tangalooma Island Resort), Isaac Moody (owner Gabbinbar Homestead) and Russell Peters (owner Peters Coaches and Peters Travel).<\/p>\n

Strategic marketer Ruth Wetmore has been appointed CEO.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is important that this LTO leverages the spectacular and unique experiences and products of the region and delivers game changing outcomes for our visitors, our industry and our more than 2000 tourism operators,\u201d Ms Wetmore said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will be membership based and we urge every business on the Darling Downs to join our organisation.<\/p>\n

\u201cTourism generates more than $1.3 billion per annum \u2013 or an astonishing $3.5m per day – in direct and indirect revenue for the region, creating more than 10,000 jobs.\u201d<\/p>\n

The new body will be launched at Wellcamp Airport on June 13 at a function for an “anticipated crowd of about 1000 guests”.<\/p>\n

Country music singer Chelsea Basham will perform at the launch.<\/p>\n

Tourism operators keen to attend have been asked to register their interest on\u00a0www.visitdarlingdowns.com.au<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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