Queenslanders have their say on tourism
Posted by editor (editor) on Aug 12 2010
2010 >>

A survey of Queensland communities has revealed that the majority of Queenslanders agree tourism has a positive impact on their regions.

Tourism Minister Peter Lawlor said the results came from a recent survey conducted by Tourism Queensland which examined residents’ views on the social impacts of tourism on their community.

“The ‘Your Community’ survey was conducted earlier this year for the first time, with the intention of guiding state and local tourism authorities in their decision-making processes on tourism development,” Mr Lawlor said.

“Tourism development that is in line with the wants and needs of the local community not only provides a more authentic tourist experience for visitors, but attracts stronger support for the industry – which is a win-win for everyone.

“We wanted to capture Queenslanders’ views on the tourism industry and how it impacts their communities as well as their own quality of life, so we can help keep the industry sustainable.

“The survey has revealed that overall Queenslanders look favourably on tourism in their cities and towns.

“It also highlighted that the majority of Queenslanders agree tourism has a positive impact on the local economy, increases a region’s profile, feelings of pride and leads to new infrastructure and more interesting things to do.”

Mr Lawlor said almost 4000 Queenslanders were surveyed from throughout the state.

“Out of the 4000 people surveyed, 92 percent were either happy with the number of tourists visiting their region or would like to see more,” he said.

“Of the 14 regions Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Tropical North Queensland residents were more likely to recognise a direct benefit from the industry and as a result were more likely than the average Queenslander to agree that tourism had a positive impact on their quality of life.

“Given that tourism is a mainstay of these regions’ economies, it’s great to see that locals recognise its value.”

Mr Lawlor said the majority of residents from Fraser Coast through to Townsville and also those in Toowoomba acknowledged the benefits of tourists and supported the work being done by local authorities to bring more tourists to their region.

“Residents in these regions also indicated they were happy for tourism development to continue.”

Mr Lawlor said the inaugural ‘Your Community’ social indicators survey established a benchmark for future surveys to gauge the impact of tourism on individuals and their local community.

“Tourism is a critical part of Queensland’s communities and it’s important for us to know how to manage the future impact, while keeping in mind local priorities and community feedback,” he said.

“Tourism Queensland is actively involved in consultation with a range of stakeholders to provide direction for the sustainable development of tourism in the state.

“The Tourism Opportunity Plans are an example of how Tourism Queensland is providing a focal point to guide how public and private investment in tourism can be brought together to meet residents’ and visitors’ needs and ensure the region’s potential is realised, but its character and diversity is preserved.”

In the year ended June 2008, tourism contributed $9.2 billion to the Queensland economy and accounted for 4.7 percent of the Gross State Product.

The industry also directly employs 122,000 Queenslanders or 5.7 percent of all persons employed in the state, while a further 100,000 indirectly owe their employment to tourism.

To review the Queensland Social Indicators factsheet and for a regional breakdown of results visit – www.tq.com.au/research

MEDIA ENQUIRIES:

Minister’s Office: Zoe Russell - 0437 436 914
Tourism Queensland: 3535 5474

Last changed: Aug 12 2010 at 10:58 AM