Brisbane 13 August 2013. Queensland tourism will receive a major boost with 22 regional projects sharing almost $3 million, as part of the Queensland Government’s Regional Tourism Organisation (RTO) Contestable Grants Funding Scheme.
Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and the Commonwealth Games Jann Stuckey said the grants would be used to leverage local tourism opportunities and support the Newman Government’s goal of doubling annual overnight visitor expenditure to $30 billion by 2020.
“At the inaugural DestinationQ Forum held in Cairns last June, our Government increased the funding available to RTOs and these projects will help further boost tourism in Queensland,” Ms Stuckey said
“The grants are in addition to the $4 million in core funding made available for the RTO network in 2013-14, bringing total government support to $7 million.
“The successful applications include innovative proposals linked to DestinationQ outcomes and focus on marketing or product development opportunities that complement the Government’s wider tourism strategy.”
Ms Stuckey said a committee was established to assess grant applications, which was made up of representatives from the Queensland Tourism Industry Council, Tourism Australia, Tourism and Events Queensland and the Department of Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and the Commonwealth Games.
“RTOs were encouraged to leverage their own contributions towards projects with those from partners including local governments, local tourism organisations, industry and other partners,” she said.
“Where grant applications have been successful, the State Government will match the destination’s cash contributions dollar-for-dollar.
“In addition, RTOs are eligible to receive an extra 50 per cent for every dollar of new local government funds contributed to their successful projects.”
Ms Stuckey said the Newman Government continued to focus on the importance of industry partnerships and the RTO Contestable Grant Scheme was a practical example of this.
Summary of RTO Contestable Grants Funding Scheme 2013-14 by region.
|
Regional Tourism Organisation |
Projects supported |
Total grant funding |
|
Brisbane Marketing |
China Partnership Strategy Phase 2 |
$60,000 |
|
Greater Brisbane Regional Campaign |
$285,000 |
|
|
Total |
$345,000 |
|
|
Bundaberg North Burnett Tourism |
Bundaberg Turtle Experience Campaign |
$75,000 |
|
Bundaberg North Burnett Digital Information System |
$135,000 |
|
|
Total |
$210,000 |
|
|
Capricorn Enterprise |
Dig the Tropic |
$42,500 |
|
Total |
$42,500 |
|
|
Gladstone Area Promotion and Development Limited |
Promotion and Growth of Industrial Tourism for the Gladstone Region |
$20,000 |
|
Total |
$20,000 |
|
|
Gold Coast Tourism Corporation |
This is Gold Coast – Business Events Exchange |
$90,000 |
|
Flight Centre Campaign |
$205,000 |
|
|
Total |
$295,000 |
|
|
Outback Queensland Tourism Association |
Outback Queensland Eventures Tourism Campaign |
$360,000 |
|
Total |
$360,000 |
|
|
Sunshine Coast Destination Limited |
Business Events: International and Domestic Growth Project |
$104,500 |
|
Total |
$104,500 |
|
|
Southern Queensland Country Tourism |
Southern Queensland Country Autumn Campaign – Phase 2 |
$136,100 |
|
Southern Queensland Country Club |
$74,000 |
|
|
Total |
$210,100 |
|
|
Townsville Enterprise |
Cruise, Learn and Explore Townsville North Queensland |
$134,000 |
|
Corporate Social Responsibility for Business Events |
$64,030 |
|
|
Total |
$198,030 |
|
|
Tourism Fraser Coast |
Whale Education and Community Engagement Strategy |
$114,500 |
|
Australia’s Nature Coast Partnership Strategy 2013-14 |
$60,000 |
|
|
Total |
$174,500 |
|
|
Tourism Tropical North Queensland |
TNQ Paradise Campaign |
$265,000 |
|
Drive North Queensland |
$230,000 |
|
|
Sports Event Tourism |
$194,000 |
|
|
Total |
$689,000 |
|
|
Whitsundays Marketing & Development Ltd |
Airlie Beach Re-launch Project |
$125,000 |
|
Whitsundays Winter Sale |
$150,000 |
|
|
Weddings in the Whitsundays campaign |
$55,000 |
|
|
Total |
$330,000 |
