It was a pleasure to meet with many of you and to have you share your key concerns and priorities with us. Top of mind for the majority of operators we spoke with was the untenable insurance landscape and a lack of affordable and adequate housing, which currently sits against a backdrop of cost-of-living challenges. These key hurdles were echoed throughout all my visits and discussions with industry.
On the Capricorn itinerary was a visit to Great Keppel Island, where I was reminded of how remarkable Queensland’s coastlines are. But for our regional communities to thrive and for our unique landscapes to be enjoyed by others, industry depends on adequate access and infrastructure. Such improvements are desperately needed on the Island and, unfortunately, on similar destinations up and down the state’s coastline. Throughout this election year, I will be bringing these pressing concerns to all levels of government and the issues of insurance, housing and workforce will remain a top advocacy priority for QTIC.
In the theme of regional visits, I also met with operators in Tropical North Queensland this month and was joined by QTIC’s Board in Moreton Bay. Connecting with operators across Queensland is critically important and ensures that our advocacy efforts remain in line with your needs and priorities.
Thank you to everyone who met with the QTIC team in region this month and a special thank you to Mary Carroll CEO of Capricorn Enterprise, Zac Garven ,Tourism and Events Manager of Advance Rockhampton, and Tash Wheeler, CEO of MBRIT, who hosted us in their respective regions and connected us with local businesses.
It would be remiss of me to close out this month’s message without reminding operators that nominations for the
2024 Queensland Tourism Awards close this Friday 3 May, with submissions due in August. The awards are our industry’s pinnacle accolade and spotlight those businesses and individuals who have dedicated themselves to visitor excellence. I highly encourage everyone to take a few minutes to nominate for the awards and to celebrate your successes and those of your team.
Kind regards,
Brett Fraser
QTIC CEO
