• Celebrating 10 Years of Champions

    Over 120 business leaders, employers, government representatives, tourism organisations, native title holders and community organisations united at the Pullman Hotel in Brisbane to discuss and strategies opportunities for First Nations tourism in Queensland.

    The event was hosted by the Queensland Tourism Industry (QTIC) Council under guidance from the QTIC Indigenous Champions Network, celebrating ten years of initiatives through the network.

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  • October 2020 Update: From the Chief Executive

    It is hard to know which topic is the most pressing for our industry at this time. In less than a week, we will know who Queenslanders want to lead the state for the next four years.

    Either way – or with a hung Parliament – QTIC will continue to make the case that a strong and well-supported tourism industry it critical for this state and its recovery. We have taken our election priorities to all candidates and we have seen a number of announcements from both major parties that give us some confidence that we are being heard. Of course, election promises are just that, promises. During the next term of government, a lot of real action will have to take place to make sure tourism can not only recover but can power-up the economy and the community. This will also mean clear policy settings to give businesses confidence and certainty, including ongoing COVID-related restrictions. In this context, I draw your attention to the national “to-do list” released by the Business Council of Australia (BCA), calling for a clear path out of border restriction, both internal and international. It is based on a sobering assessment of the cost of travel restrictions and the loss of aviation links.

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  • Industry Welcomes LNP’s $50 Million Destination Marketing Fund

    The Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) welcomes the announcement by Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington for an LNP Government to back tourism.

    The announcement is focused on a $50 million fund for an all-out destination 'marketing blitz' which will be directly allocated to Regional Tourism Organisations (RTOs).

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  • Industry Welcomes ALP Tourism Announcements

    The Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) welcomed today’s election announcement by the Premier, Hon Annastacia Palaczszuk, of tourism initiatives under her future government.  The Premier made the announcements today at the Sunshine Coast.  

    QTIC Chief Executive, Daniel Gschwind said, “Tourism operators and employees are watching eagerly to see how the major parties propose to work with the tourism industry to unlock its potential to drive Queensland’s economic recovery. 

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  • CrisisReady program helps tourism operators prepare for the unexpected

    This United Nations’ International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) joins with two Queensland global leaders, EarthCheck and Entegy, to help Queensland tourism operators to respond to and manage recovery from a crisis event. Through the CrisisReady program, businesses can build capacity to prepare for a crisis event and develop a response and continuity plan.
     

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  • Save the Date: Tourism Village Celebration

    QTIC invites you to a very special end-of-year event to celebrate the tourism industry. The event will be a gathering of friends and colleagues to reconnect, share stories,  exchange ideas and enjoy each other's company on the village green.  

    Guests will be treated to quality cuisine and entertainment as they experience genuine Queensland hospitality. This celebration will focus on the sights and sounds of the Sunshine State and highlight the strength and solidarity of the industry. 

    The function will comply with the Industry Framework for COVID Safe Events in Queensland and the BCEC Site-Specific COVID Safe Plan. Tickets will be limited.  Further details available soon.    

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  • State Election Tourism Priorities

    On the basis of our earlier pre-budget submission and guided by the feedback from our members, we have submitted a summarised tourism priority list for the next term of the Queensland Government. We firmly believe that a vibrant tourism and hospitality sector must be a bi-partisan priority and we always urge all elected representatives to build on success and the strong collaborative spirit that exists in our industry. 

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  • A Federal Budget to Bring Back Confidence

    The Federal Government has delivered a big-spending budget, squarely aimed at boosting consumer confidence with tax and income support measures and also giving businesses tax and grant incentives to invest and employ. It is what the economy needs to recover from the suffocating COVID-constraints. We certainly hope that some of the extra disposable income will be directed towards domestic tourism by cooped up consumers looking for positive experiences. Queensland is well placed to make the most of this opportunity with our diverse regions and destinations. As domestic borders open and air services are restored – including potentially new routes – there is significant potential to make domestic travel more trendy and more ‘Instagramable’ than ever before.

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  • A Christmas Wish for the Tourism Industry

    The Queensland tourism industry is overjoyed with the announcement today from the Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk about the next stages of eased COVID-19 restrictions for the state. 

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  • September 2020 Update: From the Chief Executive

    With a few positive steps towards a return to business for our industry, we continue to advocate on multiple fronts. Easing of border restrictions and operational restrictions remain a priority. The opening of the Queensland border to the ACT and Northern NSW is an encouraging step and will hopefully guide us towards a responsible opening for all of NSW. With excellent health outcomes in Queensland, limits on some aspects of tourism operations have also been eased, including for outdoor events.

    While there are still many restrictions in place, the latest steps will allow more businesses to operate with greater viability. The state-of-play in our industry meanwhile is a story of mixed fortunes. Some of our members, especially in the South East Corner and the Outback are reporting strong activity, while others are still suffering. Not just international visitors are missing, but corporate travel has all but disappeared, as have most of the interstate markets. Not all business can easily ‘pivot’ to the intrastate market.

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