- Funding doubles to $30 million for popular Growing Future Tourism Fund
- New $10 million Building Bush Tourism Fund to create visitor infrastructure in the regions
New tourism attractions and experiences across the state will be fast-tracked thanks to an additional $15 million boost for the popular Growing Future Tourism Fund.
Speaking at the tourism sector’s major industry event DestinationQ in Cairns, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk told the 700 attendees the Growing Future Tourism Fund would double to $30 million, creating a pipeline of private tourism infrastructure.
Demand for funding in the initial round earlier this year exceeded expectations and identified a large number of exciting new tourism infrastructure projects.
The Growing Future Tourism Fund supports applicants with matched funding to accelerate project completion, ensuring a minimum $60 million investment across the state and supporting construction jobs, as well as increasing overnight visitor expenditure and ongoing tourism jobs.
At the DestinationQ forum Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe also announced the opening of the $10 million Building Bush Tourism fund.
Building Bush Tourism supports tourism operators, not-for-profits and local councils outside South East Queensland to create new or enhanced tourism, social and community infrastructure or deliver community and cultural experiences that improve local lifestyles while also driving visitation.
Project funding will range from $50,000 to $200,000, with possible projects including heritage buildings, cultural institutions, aquatic and recreation facilities, supporting infrastructure for arts and music festivals, walking tracks, lookouts and much more.
It is estimated the Building Bush Tourism program could support up to 200 construction jobs; 200 ongoing operational jobs; attract more than 300,000 additional visitors each year and inject an extra $60 million in overnight visitor expenditure.
Quotes attributable to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk:
“Queensland’s tourism economy was a record $33.2 billion last financial year.
“Figures show Queensland is Australia’s dominant holiday state and we want to make sure our visitors and operators are getting the most out of our tourism attractions.
“Today’s announcements mean more jobs for Queenslanders and that we will be able to offer tourists even more.
“Our government stands by the tourism industry and backs it 100 per cent.”
Quotes attributable to Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe:
“Growing Future Tourism and Building Bush Tourism will help super-charge the industry’s pipeline of new Queensland visitor infrastructure and experiences.
“The Palaszczuk Government is backing the industry’s investment pipeline to support more, good regional Queensland jobs and international visitor recovery.
“It’s part of our commitment to the Towards Tourism 2032 roadmap’s goal of building a $44 billion-a-year Queensland visitor economy by the Brisbane 2032 Games.
“New experiences and infrastructure are critical to Queensland’s standing as the nation’s favourite holiday location and emerging as a global destination of choice.”
Quotes attributable to Tourism and Events Queensland CEO Patricia O’Callaghan:
“These commitments to supporting new experiences and infrastructure are important as our industry works towards our bold growth goals,” Ms O’Callaghan said.
“Queensland is uniquely diverse and decentralised and the pledge to bolster our regional tourism offerings gives us new experiences to share and new reasons to visit Queensland.
“To remain globally competitive this is exactly the kind of investment we need.”
Quotes attributable to Queensland Tourism Industry Council CEO Brett Fraser:
“Investment in tourism is critical in securing our immediate and long-term success. We welcome the State Government’s announcement that additional funds will be provided for our industry,” Mr Fraser said.
“To remain a world-class destination, we must invest in vital infrastructure and improve the business capabilities of our hard-working operators.
“Attracting visitors to Queensland is just one part of the puzzle. We need to ensure that we also have the skills, training, and investment needed to meet evolving consumer demands.
“Ensuring that Queensland’s regional communities have the support required to bolster their visitor offerings is key to our state’s tourism success.”
