DestinationQ 2018 a great success!
Posted on November 20th, 2018
Representation from right across our Capricorn region at the annual DQ tourism forum was very encouraging!
An audience of 700 intently listened to keynote speakers about the rapid digital trends and how to engage the younger generations (author Claire Madden of helloclarity) and an incredible presentation about how public art around the globe has completely transformed visitation to destinations (Daniel Tobin and Carolyn Karnovsky, UAP studio). Resonating phrases within these presentations included:
- “continuous partial attention”
- “absence presence”
- “can’t automate personality”
- “caring for country and culture”.
Two panel sessions were a great opportunity to hear from our Industry Leaders and ask questions freely:
Panel One: Leanne Coddington (CEO Tourism and Events Qld – TEQ), Damien Walker (DG Department of Innovation, Tourism Industry Development – DITID), Daniel Gschwind (CEO Qld Industry Tourism Council QTIC), Cr Belinda Murphy (Chair Outback Qld Tourism Association – OQTA) and Cameron Costello (CEO, Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation) talked about the need for collaboration across industries, all levels of government, broader stakeholder groups and the need for more dispersal throughout the regions. Collaboration, Connectivity and Dispersal was a strong theme – our tourism neighbours aren’t our competition – our competitors are overseas destinations like Bali, Fiji and Hawaii.
Panel Two: Provided an opportunity for attendees to ask questions of Minister for Innovation and Tourism Industry Development the Hon Kate Jones MP, Minister for Transport and Main Roads the Hon Mark Bailey MP and Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef, Minister for Science and Minister for the Arts, the Hon Leeanne Enoch MP, Chairman of Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ) Brett Godfrey and Chairman of Qld Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) Shane O’Reilly. This panel talked about the need for government public infrastructure and policy to further help develop our tourism industry; the continued need for collaboration and partnerships with Queensland having a huge opportunity to grow our market share with product development; there needs to be a balance between protecting our natural assets and developing eco-tourism products in our national parks and privately owned land, promoting “Conservation through Commerce” through our tourism industry without “Loving our Natural Assets to death”. Tourism is the perfect vehicle to educate people about protecting our natural assets and our industry is the best custodian to undertake this critical role.
Thanks to operators from our three precincts who attended with the Capricorn Enterprise team (Mary Carroll, Kerry Kerr & Heather Congram).
- Central Highlands – Kerry Wilson (Miners Heritage, Sapphire Gemfields), Olivia Evans (Sandstone Park Carnarvon Gorge), Sandra Hobbs (CHDC)
- Rockhampton Region – Grant Cassidy and Zac Garven (Empire/Edge Apartment Hotels), Amanda Hinton and Jordan Wheeler (Capricorn Caves)
- Capricorn Coast – Kelly Eloise Chaffers and Kelly Harris (Great Keppel Island Hideaway), Mayor Bill Ludwig and Director Debra Howe (Livingstone Shire Council)
This year’s DestinationQ on the Gold Coast was the 7th tourism industry forum hosted by the state government, with the inaugural DQ held in Cairns in 2012.
It is a fabulous opportunity for our Queensland tourism industry to learn, network and be invigorated in a different part of our beautiful state each year.
L-R: Kerry Wilson (Miners Heritage), Heather Congram (Capricorn Enterprise), Meaghan Scanlon MP (Assistant Minister for Tourism Industry Development), Mary Carroll and Kerry Kerr (Capricorn Enterprise.
