QUEENSLAND is launching a new tourism campaign to try and lure travellers back to the Sunshine State as the industry starts its road to recovery.
The $5.2 million ‘Great Queensland Getaway’ campaign will offer heavily-discounted accommodation and airfare deals as well as ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ experiences.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the campaign will go live nationally on Sunday and will be for bookings through to June.
“I know first-hand how COVID-19 has affected tourism businesses throughout our state,” she said.
“But now we’re ready to welcome back visitors and I know so many families and friends are ready to reconnect on a Queensland holiday.”
Some of the deals on offer include $2000 in holiday bonuses, $1 breakfasts on the Fraser Coast and $119-a-night accommodation deals on the Gold Coast.
While the announcement will be welcomed by the tourism industry, leaders had been crying out for financial support to try and lure international visitors back to the Sunshine State ahead of Australia’s borders reopening to vaccinated travellers on February 21.
Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the government was working on what campaigns they could roll out internationally in the future.
“The ‘Good To Go’ campaign is actually going to be taken to the UK and Singapore in the very near future,” Minister Hinchliffe said.
“And we’ll be ready to roll it out to other countries as they become more possible for two way travel.”
The Premier said this campaign was “just the start”.
“We know our tourism industry has been going through a really tough time over the last two year,” she said.
“Especially those areas that really rely on international tourism.
“The fact that in about 12 days time the international borders will be open for travellers, that is welcome news for businesses that have really been struggling.”
The Premier also said COVID-19 vaccine requirements for internationally travellers won’t change from two jabs to three unless ATAGI recommends it.
It comes after the Victoria Premier launched a push for the booster shot to be made mandatory.
“If ATAGI changes then I will absolutely we will absolutely follow suit with Victoria, but that is not the case.”
Tourism and Events Queensland Chief Executive Officer Leanne Coddington said it was exciting to be returning to national and international marketing.
“We know as people emerge from this latest outbreak they want to feel good – and to do so they will value safety, simplicity and memorable moments with friends, family and the natural environment,” she said.
“These campaigns give them the inspiration to do that in Queensland, as competition from other destinations begins to ramp up.”
