Cook Shire tourism operators to develop new tourism trails project
Posted by editor (editor) on Aug 12 2010
2010 >>

The Cook Shire Council will lead a $36,823 grant project to develop a series of tourism trails and activities aimed at bringing more tourists to the region, Tourism Minister Peter Lawlor announced today.

Mr Lawlor said the funding was part of the Queensland Tourism Network Grant Scheme, administered by Tourism Queensland, and would be used by the Council to work with local groups including the Cooktown Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Tropical North Queensland, Weipa Town Authority, Savannah Way Ltd, Cassowary Coast Regional Council and tourism operators Mungumby Lodge, Guurrbi Tours and the Sovereign Resort Hotel to develop and market new tourist trails in the Cooktown region.

Member for Cook Jason O’Brien said the Cook Shire region of Tropical North Queensland was home to some of the state’s most beautiful scenery and tourism experiences.

“This project is a fantastic example of local organisations working together,” he said.

“This project will involve developing a series of niche tourism trail products and activities and developing marketing activities to promote them and encourage more visitors to spend more time in the region.”

Mr Lawlor said the Queensland Tourism Network Grant Scheme application process was announced in February this year with funding available to a range of not-for-profit tourism groups including regional and local tourism organisations, local government tourism departments and divisions, and tourism associations that were members of the Queensland Tourism Industry Council.

The grants fell under two categories - funding for projects to enable tourism organisations to streamline their current operations – for example by merging with other tourism bodies; and for organisations to collaborate on new tourism marketing or product development initiatives that aren’t already part of their core operations.

Mr Lawlor said the Queensland Tourism Network Grant Scheme would allocate $3 million over the next three years as part of a commitment to help the state’s tourism organisations develop a stronger and more cohesive network.

“The aim of the grant scheme was to encourage tourism organisations to think outside their ‘business as usual’ squares,” he said.

“We wanted them to come to us with proposals that would help them build a stronger and more efficient tourism network in Queensland,” he said.

“The calibre of grant submissions was extremely high and I congratulate Capricorn TourismCook Shire Council, on the success of their application.”

The grants are a result of the 2008 State Government review of Queensland’s tourism network which resulted in a series of reforms which included encouraging tourism organisations to collaborate in order to create a more efficient and streamlined industry.

Further information:
Minister’s office – 3224 2007
Tourism Queensland – 3535 5010

Last changed: Aug 12 2010 at 10:49 AM