{"id":213342,"date":"2018-07-10T17:55:23","date_gmt":"2018-07-10T07:55:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=213342"},"modified":"2020-07-29T10:44:56","modified_gmt":"2020-07-29T00:44:56","slug":"tourism-jobs-grow-4-7pc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2018\/07\/10\/tourism-jobs-grow-4-7pc\/","title":{"rendered":"Tourism Jobs Grow 4.7pc"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Tourism Minister Kate Jones<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

July 10, 2018<\/strong><\/p>\n

Southern Queensland Country\u2019s tourism industry has recorded strong growth in the last year.<\/p>\n

Data released this week shows the sector now employs about 9400 people and pumps more than $920 million per year into the economy.<\/p>\n

Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones said Tourism Research Australia Satellite Account data for 2016-2017 showed a 4.7 per cent growth in the number of people employed in tourism in the Southern Queensland Country region.<\/p>\n

The data also showed a 6.6 per cent growth in gross regional product.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m proud to say tourism is now worth more than $920 million a year to Southern Queensland Country and employs more than 9000 people,” Ms Jones said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis data is proof that we\u2019re on the right track. But I know we can create more jobs in this sector over the next few years.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re spending more on tourism than any Queensland government in history \u2013 this includes an extra $180 million in last month\u2019s State Budget to grow this industry.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur priorities include working with tourism operators to build new attractions in important destinations like Toowoomba, along with attracting more direct flights and securing more major events for our State.\u201d<\/p>\n