Fantastic news that the local consortium of organisations were the successful bidders to relaunch and revitalise the Queensland College of Wine and Tourism (QCWT).
Given tourism is set to be our Region’s primary source of economic development and job creation in the future, having QCWT focused on developing these opportunities gives us a head start in the competitive world of tourism.
Within days of the QCWT decision, the State Government released its Destination 2045 tourism strategy. This strategy is unambiguous in its goal: “Queensland aspires to become the world’s leading ecotourism destination, leveraging its incredible biodiversity and natural environments that already attract visitors from across the globe. Ecotourism is a key competitive advantage for the state, offering significant potential to create future jobs, support local communities, and unlock new opportunities for operators.”
For the last four years, GBSAN has been advocating the creation of a nature-based tourism for the Granite Belt. The data is clear – there is a huge unfulfilled demand for more nature-based tourism experiences both nationally and internationally. Finally, a local working group including GBSAN, the Chamber of Commerce and Granite Belt Wine and Tourism facilitated by Queensland Country Tourism will meet in early July to start creating the strategic plan that aligns with Destination 2045.
The Granite Belt and the Southern Downs more broadly has a range of world-class nature-based tourism attractions. However, as we saw Girraween overloaded last Easter, there is a need to expand visitor opportunities. In doing so, we can protect the best of what’s left while, with careful planning and the development of additional nature-based attractions.
Any nature-based tourism strategy must include canvassing options for creating new small, locally owned businesses that are at the core of our local and national economy. Given the demand for the development of an ecologically sustainable nature-based tourism industry across Australia, a revitalised QCWT could potentially become a national hub for assisting other regions develop these strategies on the back of developing a local strategy.
With the creation of a local working group, the relaunch of the QCWT and the release of the Destination 2045 Strategy, the stars seem to be aligning around the creation of a nature-based tourism sector on the Granite Belt that celebrates and protects our wonderful and unique landscape while providing local jobs, particularly for young people.
