Grant leads the way for Queensland’s Gulf Savannah
Posted by editor (editor) on Aug 12 2010
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Savannah Way Ltd will lead a $173,376 grant project with more than 30 Queensland tourism groups and operators aimed at developing a cooperative marketing and development platform to promote North Queensland as a preferred destination for the self-drive tourism market, Tourism Minister Peter Lawlor said.

Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism and Member for Barron River Steve Wettenhall said the funding was part of the Queensland Tourism Network Grant Scheme, administered by Tourism Queensland, and would be used to develop an integrated online platform and network of tourism operators, both online and through operator and industry partnerships, to promote Tropical North Queensland’s 14 self-drive touring routes.

“This project will bring together a range of tourism groups including North Queensland regional and local tourism organisations, councils and operators, plus several industry associations and government departments, all working together to promote the Tropical North’s self-drive tourism,” Mr Wettenhall said.

“With vast areas of unspoilt wilderness, scenery, wildlife and friendly locals, Tropical North Queensland is known as ‘nature’s playground’ and is an amazing part of the world.

“By working together these groups will be able to extend their marketing reach and hopefully attract more visitors to spend more time and more money in the region.”

Mr Wettenhall 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.

“Savannah Way Ltd submitted an application on behalf of the group and I am happy to report their application was successful.”

Minister for Tourism Peter 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 Savannah Way Ltd and its partners 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 10:47 AM