BRISBANE, Queensland, Sept. 18 -- The Queensland Department of the Premier and Cabinet issued text of the following statement:
Minister for the Environment and Tourism and Minister for Science and Innovation
The Honourable Andrew Powell
* The Crisafulli Government's Regional Rewards campaign has delivered a $4 million economic win for tourism operators.
* The initiative - delivered in partnership with RACQ - has sold out, with all 10,000 $100 discounts snapped up, drawing visitors from across Australia to regional Queensland.
* TheCrisafulli Government is delivering a fresh start for Queensland tourism through Destination 2045 after a decade of decline under the former Labor Government.
More than $4 million has been injected into regional Queensland's tourism economy through the Crisafulli Government's Regional Rewards campaign, with all 10,000 incentives snapped up.
The campaign - delivered in partnership with RACQ - offered travellers $100 off eligible tourism experiences, putting more people through the doors of regional operators and more money into local economies.
Tropical North Queensland recorded the strongest uptake of bookings, followed by the Whitsundays, Fraser Coast, Townsville and Outback Queensland.
Reef, wildlife and island experiences proved the biggest drawcards, with Hartley's Crocodile Adventures, Great Adventures' Green Island Eco Adventure and Red Cat Adventures' Thundercat Full Day Tour among the most popular experiences.
Almost half of bookings came from Queenslanders holidaying in their own backyard, while interstate visitors accounted for more than half of demand, led by Victoria and New South Wales.
The campaign drove immediate bookings over winter and into the spring school holidays, helping extend the economic boost for regional tourism businesses.
Regional Rewards formed part of TEQ's That Holiday Feeling Starts Here winter campaign and supported the goals of Destination 2045 to grow regional visitation and Queensland's visitor economy.
Minister for the Environment and Tourism Andrew Powell said Regional Rewards was a win for tourism operators and regional communities.
"Queensland is the home of the holiday, and the Crisafulli Government is making sure more visitors choose Queensland and more of their holiday dollar stays here," Minister Powell said.
"Regional Rewards put more people through the doors of tourism businesses and more money into regional economies, while encouraging Queenslanders to explore their own backyard.
"After a decade of Labor taking tourism for granted and planning to slash funding by 95 per cent, the Crisafulli Government is backing the industry through Destination 2045 to grow visitation, create jobs and drive investment across Queensland."
Tourism and Events Queensland CEO Craig Davidson said the popularity of Regional Rewards reflected the strength of Queensland's regional tourism offerings.
"I'd like to thank RACQ for partnering with us on this program, which has been incredibly valuable for Queensland's regions, home to some of the most memorable holidays in Australia," Mr Davidson said.
"Regional Rewards complemented our That Holiday Feeling Starts Here campaign by giving travellers another reason to turn inspiration into a holiday and generating bookings for operators and communities across the State."
RACQ Chief Executive Community MJ Bellotti said it was fantastic to see all the Regional Rewards offers redeemed.
"As the State's largest Club, we were proud to back an initiative that encouraged more tourists to explore Queensland's regions and help support local businesses," Ms Belotti said.
"We hope this strong momentum continues, driving tourism into the future and delivering lasting benefits for communities across Queensland."
ENDS
MEDIA CONTACT: Ruth McCosker, 0406 331 114
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Top five regions where vouchers were redeemed:
Top 10 experiences booked:
Bookings by State/Territory:
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
