Council to boost tourism from good to great!
Council is now calling for your ideas on taking our region’s tourism strategies from good to great!
Last year 499,000 visitors (mainly domestic) contributed $221 million to the Gympie region economy.
Over the last 10 years, domestic visitation to the Gympie region increased by 39%; almost double that of Queensland’s entire tourism growth rates, which grew by 20 % over the same period. The Gympie region is also outperforming many Queensland regions in attracting international visitors from UK and Germany (12,000 and 10,000 visitors respectively).
The Gympie Region Tourism Discussion Paper, endorsed by Council in late October, is now online for public display and comment at gympie.qld.gov.au/haveyoursay.
The paper takes an in-depth look at facts, data and observations on what’s working in the region’s favour and what could be improved upon to increase overnight visitor expenditure across the region.
The paper considers both immediate and long-term tourism solutions; capitalising on the region’s ‘heritage’ status, removing distasteful highway signage, enhancing the town’s view of the Mary River and promoting the region as a premier wedding destination are all considered as options.
For those without internet access, Council will also be holding drop-in sessions:
- Gympie City – Wednesday 14 November, 10am to 12 noon, Level 1 Committee Room, Gympie Town Hall
- Kilkivan/Goomeri – Thursday 15 November, 10am to 12 noon, Board Room, Council Offices, Kilkivan
- Mary Valley Country – Tuesday 20 November, 10am to 12 noon, Imbil Library, Imbil
- Cooloola Coast – Tuesday 27 November, 10am to 12 noon, Tin Can Bay Library, Tin Can Bay
The paper is part of an ongoing body of work being undertaken by Council’s tourism arm, Destination Gympie Region. Submissions will be open until 30 November.
For those who cannot access a computer, a copy of the paper and hard-copy feedback forms are available to be filled out at Council’s Customer Contact point (Town Hall, 2 Caledonian Hill).
