In this Issue:
- Accommodation incentives
- Destination direction
- Exchange and Export
- Popular spot
- Massive exposure
- Regional push
- Straddie Chamber marketing
- Sands of time
- Put SMBIs on the map
- Minjerribah magic
- Ferries update
- Council projects
Accommodation incentives
There are now more reasons to develop tourist accommodation in the Redlands thanks to a new incentives package.
It follows a Redland City Council resolution in June to investigate incentives to generate tourism accommodation projects that will provide local employment by attracting more visitors to the Redlands.
You may also like these stories
The incentives adopted by Council at its general meeting on 30 July include:
- 100 per cent concession for infrastructure charges and development application fees on a “first come, first served” basis for material change of use development (involving building works).
- Twenty business day priority assessment of development applications that are well made.
- Rating and utility charge concession during the construction phase for material change of use development
Destination direction
Brisbane Marketing has been working on the Destination Tourism Plan for the Greater Brisbane Region and sought feedback from Redland City Council and local tourism operators.
The plan, more than six months in the making, aims to provide the definitive direction for the visitor economy in the region towards 2020. It will highlight the resources needed to create sustainable and competitive tourism destinations.
The Redlands’ visitor economy stretches beyond just leisure and holiday visitors and includes events, business travel, visiting friends and family as well as travel for a purpose, such as education and health.
The plan will provide the Redlands – which has unique features and experiences, opportunities and challenges – with a clear strategy for supporting a sustainable tourism industry.
Exchange and Export
The Redlands has had exposure to 38 countries through its representation at the recent Australian Tourism Exchange in Cairns and the Australian Tourism Export Council in Sydney.
The events bring together tourism businesses with international travel industry and media. With international operators looking for new destinations for their customers, the Redlands is in a great position to build on its tourism credentials and draw more international visitors. During the event, many valuable relationships were formed.
Popular spot
About 500 people a week call into the visitor centre at IndigiScapes. We welcomed 3470 people in April, 2607 in May, an exceptional 4705 in June and 3008 in July. New signs have been installed directing visitors to the centre on Runnymede Road, off Redland Bay Road, at Capalaba.
Remember that the Redlands Visitor Information Centre can promote your event to visitors to our region. Events can be art exhibitions, festivals, markets, cultural, community or sporting events. Email your flyer to [email protected] and don’t forget to upload your details on Council’s “What’s on Calendar” at www.redland.qld.gov.au/WhatsOn/Pages/default.aspx
Massive exposure
Here’s a great way to get your message out to the world. The Australian Tourism Data Warehouse can give you exposure on up to 60 tourism websites, including www.visitbrisbane.com.au, www.queensland.com and www.australia.com For more information, visit www.te.queensland.com/atdw. For password assistance, contact the team at [email protected] or call 1800 629 749.
For tips on how to optimise your listing, check out tutorial 31 in the Tourism EKit at http://tourismekit.atdw.com.au/
Regional push
And if you haven’t done it already, you should list your events on the new Visit Brisbane site. You can do so by filling out the form at www.visitbrisbane.com.au/submit-a-product-listing.
Once registered, you can access the Submit an Event form via the My Profile button at the top right of website.
The value has been clear during the Give Me Brisbane Any Day campaign, which saw the region marketed under one unified message. It has proved quite a hit, with more than 3500 direct leads to campaign partners.
The #brisbaneanyday road trip with Instagram influencers was hugely successful, drawing close to 500,000 views. The Visit Brisbane Instagram page also grew by more than 2000 new followers during the week-long activity.
In addition to a successful regional newspaper campaign, social media exposure during the campaign resulted in more than 45 million impressions and 108,323 clicks to the website. As part of the campaign, there will be seven regional Instameets on Saturday 4 October, where influencers will host a public “meet’’ and post to #brisbaneanyday and #thisisqueensland.
Straddie Chamber marketing
Stradbroke Chamber of Commerce’s latest campaign is well underway to draw Queensland and interstate residents to the island.
The Straddie Is Campaign, backed by Redland City Council, aims to educate people through digital media, such as YouTube, on how easy it is to travel and get around the island. The strategy incorporates social media and user-generated content.
“For Straddie locals, we experience the great weather, stunning beaches, and precious wildlife every day but we want to share our island with Australia and, in turn, find out what Straddie is to our visitors,” Stradbroke Chamber of Commerce Chairman David Thomson said. “By encouraging people to share what they think is a signature trait of Straddie, they are becoming advocates for our large tourism community and the island.”
The digital campaign will span three months during the island’s off-season.
To find out more, visit www.youtube.com/straddieis and www.facebook.com/StraddieIs
Sands of time
A group will soon be set up to help transition North Stradbroke Island’s economy from sand mining to sustainable industries.
Member for Cleveland Dr Mark Robinson has announced he has the support of the Government to form a NSI Economic Transition Group to help plan for the island’s economic future. Redland City Mayor Karen Williams will share the role of group chair.
“Much work will need to be done if we are to ensure a smooth transition over coming years from mining to an alternative economy,” Dr Robinson said. “To achieve this aim we will need all parties to be working collaboratively towards a common goal – a sustainable future for the island and its people.’’
The group will work in parallel with the well-established Quandamooka round table.
Business and community leaders who have both an existing interest in the island and a vision for its future would be invited to join the NSI Economic Transition Group.
“Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney has committed to delegating a senior officer from his Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning to be part of the group,’’ Dr Robinson said.
Cr Williams said Redland City Council supported a well-planned approach to the island’s future and was ready to support the Government in driving a successful transition.
Put SMBIs on the map
The Southern Moreton Bay Island Chamber of Commerce is inviting businesses to join them in raising the profile of what these jewels of the bay have to offer. For information on membership and events, contact Col McInnes on 0408 872 570.
Minjerribah magic
Work has started on Straddie Camping’s eco-accommodation project at Amity Point, with two new cabins due for completion by November. You will find more information at www.straddiecamping.com.au/amity-eco-project.php.
Ferries update
Take advantage of the Saturday Sunrise Special and take your car to Straddie for $85 return. Return travel must be on the same day and the departure times are either 5.15am– 6am or 7am. It’s valid until 23 August. Conditions apply and there are some block-out dates. Contact: 3488 5300
You also can take your caravan to Straddie for free if you book to travel on a Monday to Thursday until 28 August 2014. You only pay for your car. Terms and conditions apply and there are some block out dates. Contact: 3488 5300.
Stradbroke Ferries is now offering return walk-on tickets for $10 for adults and $5 for children. Travel is on any trip and with either Stradbroke Ferries or the Big Red Cat. Bookings are not necessary and these tickets are not valid for water taxi travel.
Council projects
Redland City Council has committed more than $700,000 to Stage 3 of one of the Redlands’ most famous tourist attractions, the North Gorge Walk on Straddie.
The gorge walk is a popular vantage point for whale watchers, with Straddie providing the best land-based whale watching in Australia. This investment will ensure this reputation is maintained and allow visitors to continue to experience the rich marine environment off Straddie.
The work is scheduled for early in the New Year, taking into consideration school holidays.
Straddie’s Headland Park is also getting a $500,000 facelift.
The project will include new barbeque and picnic facilities, which will add to residents’ and visitors’ enjoyment of the area.
The natural layout of the area will also be used to create an amphitheatre, including a platform and seating area that can be used for weddings and other ceremonies.
Six new formalised car-parks will be constructed along with a designated over-flow car parking area that can accommodate a further 32 cars.
Access to popular North Gorge Walk will be enhanced as part of the project, which also allows for new playground equipment in the future.
The project is expected to be completed by the end of August (weather permitting) and, while there will be some minor disruptions to vehicle access to the area, pedestrian access will be maintained throughout the work.
Bus parking is provided along East Coast Road, with overflow parking available at the Point Lookout oval next to the hall on Dickson Way.
