Tourism Tropical North Queensland welcomes the new Minister for the Environment and Tourism, and Minister for Science and Innovation Andrew Powell to the Queensland Cabinet.
I was delighted to join him on his first visit to our destination in the role on Friday alongside Member for Barron River, and Assistant Minister for Tourism, Early Learning, Creative Industries and Far North Queensland Bree James with the mountain biking community at the Smithfield Mountain Bike Park where the Crisafulli Government will spend $14 million to build 50km of new trails.
Speaking to the Cairns media, the Minister said one of his first steps in the role would be to develop Queensland’s 20-year tourism plan which addressed the need for sustainable funding for Regional Tourism Organisations. He intends to discuss the issue with the regions which will be welcomed by our network.
TTNQ believes the alignment of tourism and environment into the one portfolio, with Patricia O’Callaghan as the Acting Director General is fantastic for a destination like ours that relies on nature-based tourism. In my previous roles, I have worked with the Minister when he was previously Environment Minister and have worked closely with Trish in previous roles in Queensland. Appointing a CEO who clearly understands our industry shows how important tourism will be within that department and is a good move for the future of our industry.
This week also saw a new CEO appointed to the Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC), the voice of the industry in Brisbane. The appointment of Natasha Wheeler, previously CEO of Moreton Bay Region Industry and Tourism and before that Tourism Whitsundays, to head QTIC is another great positive for our region and the wider tourism network as Tash has been in both a Regional and a Local Tourism Organisation and has close ties to the industry.
The many changes of the past week come as we celebrate Tourism Week in Brisbane at the new Queen’s Wharf this week. I look forward to hearing from our new leaders and connecting with industry from across the State at Destination IQ, DestinationQ and the Queensland Tourism Awards.
Mark Olsen
Chief Executive Officer