DestinationQ showcases Sunshine Coast’s acumen
DestinationQ winds up today [17 September] on the Sunshine Coast during which 350 delegates discussed the key issues affecting tourism in Queensland in a three-day forum.
DestinationQ is held annually and the theme for this year’s forum was Grow your product … grow our industry.
Issues covered included enhancing the visitor experience, driving new ideas and investment, and the benefits of being “China ready” in the new Asian century.
The Sunshine Coast ensured the region lived up to its name with plenty of sunshine and temperatures in the mid 20s for the welcome reception on the sands of Noosa Main Beach, which attracted the Queensland premier, Campbell Newman, tourism minister, Jann Stuckey and travel industry figures from all over Queensland and interstate. At the beachfront reception delegates had the opportunity to taste the best of Sunshine Coast produce, including Mooloolaba prawns, Noosa smoked salmon, Eumundi beef, Hinterland feijoas and cheeses from Gympie and Blackall, all washed down with beers from the Sunshine Coast Brewery.
Conference sessions were held at the Sheraton Noosa Resort & Spa and Outrigger Resort in Little Hastings Street.
There was plenty to celebrate as the Sunshine Coast recently announced a 4.6 per cent growth in visitor numbers for 2013-14, and the hope is that DestinationQ will encourage even stronger growth in the lead up to the 100th anniversary of the Sunshine Coast in 2016.
SCDL CEO Simon Ambrose said that DestinationQ operators across the Sunshine Coast had gone all-out to showcase the destination as a premium venue for conferences and incentives. “The forum not only brought together government, industry leaders and operators to focus on the state’s tourism sector but, in a coup for the area, provide an opportunity to put the spotlight on the Sunshine Coast region,” Mr Ambrose said.
“Our key priority has been to showcase the fact that the Sunshine Coast offers a rich and diverse range of tourism experiences that go well beyond our superb beaches. Local operators throughout the region have developed exciting pre and post touring options for delegates to allow them to appreciate the strength of our tourism offer,” added Mr Ambrose.
