{"id":184449,"date":"2017-07-19T15:04:18","date_gmt":"2017-07-19T05:04:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=184449"},"modified":"2020-09-08T13:19:43","modified_gmt":"2020-09-08T03:19:43","slug":"sqct-defends-tourism-record","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2017\/07\/19\/sqct-defends-tourism-record\/","title":{"rendered":"SQCT Defends Tourism Record"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
A $225,000 decline in revenues at the South Burnett’s two dams has played a part in the SBRC’s decision to consider alternative approaches to tourism promotion<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

July 19, 2017<\/strong><\/p>\n

Will South Burnett tourism operators form their own Local Tourism Organisation to promote the region?<\/p>\n

Or will they apply to join the new Darling Downs Tourism LTO, formed by Toowoomba businessman and Wellcamp Airport owner John Wagner in May this year?<\/p>\n

These are some of the questions that may be discussed – and perhaps answered – at a workshop to be held in Kingaroy this Thursday (July 20) to discuss the future directions of South Burnett tourism promotion.<\/p>\n

It is no secret there has been discontent among some South Burnett tourism operators since the formation of SQCT in 2012 from the merger of \u201cToowoomba Golden West and South Burnett Tourism\u201d and \u201cSouthern Downs and Granite Belt Regional Tourism\u201d, two bodies that were themselves the products of earlier mergers.<\/p>\n

The local South Burnett Tourism Association wound up in 2015 after staggering along for several years following the collapse in local tourism caused by the 2011 and 2013 floods and a massive drop in membership.<\/p>\n

However, on Wednesday SQCT CEO Mary-Clare Power painted a rosier picture of the South Burnett’s tourism industry.<\/strong><\/p>\n

She said visitors to the South Burnett have increased 30 per cent over the past five years.<\/p>\n

She said analysis of Tourism Research Australia (TRA) statistics showed visitors injected nearly $90 million into the region.<\/p>\n

TRA figures for the March quarter show the number of tourists to South Burnett rose from 448,000 in 2012 to more than 581,000 this year.<\/p>\n

Ms Power said the South Burnett had one of the highest visitation increases over the past five years in the SQCT area, which also includes Toowoomba and Darling Downs, Southern Downs and Granite Belt, and the western areas of Goondiwindi, Balonne and Western Downs.<\/p>\n

\u201cLow water levels may have impacted Council-operated tourist parks near the dams but it is clear that Lake Barambah and Boondooma Dam remain jewels in South Burnett\u2019s tourism crown,\u201d Ms Power said.<\/p>\n

\u201cTRA figures reveal that the dams continue to be a major drawcard for the South Burnett region with 30 per cent more tourists taking part in fishing and water sports in the year to March compared with 2012.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith a warm start to winter, a busy school holiday period and some pleasing rainfall, our members in the South Burnett are rightfully upbeat about the prospects for 2017-18.\u201d<\/p>\n

Taste South Burnett owner and former SQCT Board member Shannon Scott declared his support for the promotional work of the tourism group.<\/strong><\/p>\n

He said he had seen an increase in visitors and expenditure at his Kingaroy business over the past five years.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a passion for the food and wine this exquisite region produces and since the formation of SQCT we have seen a solid, incremental increase in tourists coming in search of what the South Burnett has to offer,\u201d Mr Scott said.<\/p>\n

\u201cImportantly a greater proportion of these visitors are staying longer than in the past. SQCT has been very effective in delivering not just more but higher spending visitors to our region.<\/p>\n

\u201cDespite an increasingly challenging and competitive tourism market, SQCT\u2019s work has helped drive solid sales growth for our cellar door business.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ms Power said she hoped the newly released TRA statistics would assist South Burnett Regional Council in its tourism workshop, which will be held at Kingaroy Town Hall’s supper room from 9:00am to 5:00pm.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it will be very productive for Council to host the session and I look forward to speaking to Mayor Keith Campbell about the outcomes,\u201d Ms Power said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is our hope informed discussion can take place off the back of this new national data, which provides statistical insight as to what is working for the region and where to best direct additional efforts to promote growth.”<\/p>\n

Related articles:<\/strong><\/p>\n