UQ students boost regional tourism industry
Posted by editor (editor) on Sep 01 2009
2009 >>

Tourism operators in Ipswich and the Scenic Rim will benefit from an innovative program initiated by the University of Queensland, Tourism Minister Peter Lawlor said today.

Mr Lawlor said University of Queensland students involved in the Tourism Regional Internship Program (TRIP) would work with tourism organisations in both the Ipswich and Scenic Rim regions on real destination challenges.

“As part of the program, students from UQ’s School of Tourism will spend 10 days in one of the two destinations, starting in late September,” Mr Lawlor said.

“In the Scenic Rim, they will assess the packaging opportunities for the key market segments and present the proposals to industry, while the Ipswich project will focus on a visitor survey that will collect and analyse data and make recommendations for change.

“The TRIP scheme is a great example of a partnership working towards the objectives of the State Government’s Queensland Tourism Strategy.

“It also demonstrates how collaborative efforts between the higher education sector, tourism operators and regional tourism authorities can in turn benefit the community.

“The objectives include regional growth and development, which is exactly where TRIP is headed.”

University of Queensland’s School of Tourism Head Professor Roy Ballantyne said it was important to give students access to practical situations through a program that also delivered real benefits for the regions involved.

“The School prides itself on its proactive involvement with industry and we deliver a range of innovative work-integrated learning opportunities for our students,’’ Professor Ballantyne said.

“It is crucial to provide opportunities for the exchange of knowledge between industry and the university.’’

Professor Ballantyne said the program would give tourism operators in each region access to the resources of a highly regarded research institution, as well as allowing them to identify future employees with a keen understanding of the regional tourism environment.

Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale said the program would add a new dimension to tourism in the city, with students working with operators such as The Workshops Rail Museum and the Ipswich Visitor Information Centre.

“It’s wonderful to see TRIP being embraced by our tourism operators and I look forward to welcoming the students to the City of Ipswich,’’ Cr Pisasale said.

Scenic Rim Regional Council Mayor John Brent said the program was the start of a whole new era of tourism in the region.

“We are delighted to be working together with UQ and Scenic Rim tourism operators to bring about healthy outcomes for our local economy and for the students,’’ Cr Brent said.
The 16 University of Queensland students will take part in the program from 26 September - 4 October.

Last changed: Oct 06 2009 at 4:27 PM