Media Releases

15 July 2010
Tourism Queensland’s key decision makers met with Sunshine Coast operators in Caloundra this morning to discuss tourism priorities for the region during the year ahead, Tourism Queensland Executive Director Destinations Leanne Coddington said.

Ms Coddington said the ‘Conversations with TQ’ forum at Rumba Beach Resort in Caloundra was an opportunity for Tourism Queensland’s management team to hear first-hand from the Sunshine Coast tourism industry about what was happening in the region, and for the industry to learn about Tourism Queensland’s strategic direction for 2010/11.

“This forum also gives Tourism Queensland the opportunity to talk about how we can work cooperatively with the local tourism industry on our activities,” Ms Coddington said.

“Tourism Queensland understands that individual operators are pivotal to the overall success of tourism in Queensland, so it’s important that we’re working together on our future direction.

“Attendees heard from specialists in key areas, such as brand and marketing, aviation, research, communications and publicity, industry development and international markets.”

Tourism Queensland Zone Director for the Sunshine Coast Lynne Banford said the forum was perfectly timed following the recent formation of the regional tourism organisation, Sunshine Coast Destination Ltd.

“The Sunshine Coast tourism industry has undergone significant change during the past year and this forum is a great opportunity for the local tourism industry to get together and discuss how we can together work towards a more sustainable tourism future,” Ms Banford said.

Ms Coddington said in the year ending March 2010, the Sunshine Coast welcomed over 2.7 million international and domestic overnight visitors, who spent around $2 billion on trips to the region.

“Tourism is a major driver for the Sunshine Coast economy and we look forward to working together for the future of tourism on the Sunshine Coast,” she said.