A snapshot of our achievements for the 2025/26 financial year:

/ Uncategorized / 11 minutes of reading

Business Support

  • Updated the2025 Economic Report for Capricorn Coast and Rockhampton Region
  • Provision of Regional Profile and Statistics and Key Economic Sectors
  • 55 weekly Electronic Database Mailout (EDM) to Members and Stakeholders
  • Co-ordination of Brisbane2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games high school visits in July 2026
  • Preparation for biennial Major Projects & Industry Forum to be held in September 2026
  • Preparation for biennial Best in Business Awards to be held in November 2026
  • Hosted 6 Members Networking Nights with some 200 attendees
  • Frenchville Sports Club – August 2025
  • Freedom Fast Cats – January 2026
  • Nurim Yilan Tour – February 2026
  • Villa La Sini – March 2026
  • Koorana Crocodile Farm – May 2026
  • The Haven – June 2026
  • Capricorn Enterprise Strategic Plan focusses our Advocacy efforts on priority infrastructure initiatives including:
  • New Short Term Accommodation including 4.5 star – 1,219 new rooms required by 2032.
  • Great Keppel Island Master Plan – support public and private sector investment which aligns with Capricorn Destination Management Plan (DMP) 2024-2032 (co-hosted Tourism Minister visit in Dec 2025)
  • Rosslyn Bay Harbour Master Plan – support public and private sector investment which aligns with Capricorn Destination Management Plan (DMP) 2024-2032
  • 2032 Olympic & Paralympic Games – Rowing & Canoe Sprints on the Fitzroy River (incl. Legacy Infrastructure)
  • East-West Connector Road and associated Temporary Local Planning Instrument (TLPI) 2025 for the Capricorn Coast
  • Capricorn Enterprise is a Partner and/or Member of 25 Associations
  • Capricorn Enterprise has representation on ten (10) advisory groups and committees on behalf of our broad membership base including Qld Local Content Leaders Network, Stanwell Community Partnership Fund, CQ32 Legacy Olympic Rowing Committee
  • Attended numerous workshops and meetings on behalf of multiple industry sectors to provide critical input including: Migration Queensland, Energy Proponents to discuss SIA (Social Impact Assessments) and CBS (Community Benefit Schemes), RTTIP (Regional Tourism Transport Infrastructure Plan), TMR Regulated Routes review, CQ Water Assessment, Small Business Commissioner, Ministers, Government departments, Investors, Consultants (engaged by local & state governments) for Planning Scheme input, Brisbane2032 OCOG/GIICA.
  • Provided 21 Letters of Support to community groups, Council and partners for funding projects, which helped achieve significant grant funding including;
  • Residential Activation Fund (LSC – East West Connector Road $25M)
  • Tourism Icons Fund (Great Keppel Island Hideaway)
  • Regional Tourism Infrastructure Fund (Capricorn Caves, Reef Distillers)
  • Homegrown Events Fund (Rockynats, Capricorn King of King Fishing Tournament, Capricorn Film Festival, CapriCon Pop Culture)
  • Engaging Science Grants Program (CQUniversity/Capricorn Caves, Capricorn Coast Marine Community Inc, High Valley Dawn Permaculture Farm)
  • Great Barrier Reef Education Experience Program (Keppel Dive & Water Sports, Freedom Fast Cats)
  • QCoast2100 (LSC – Great Keppel Island Putney Beach)
  • Great Barrier Reef Foundation (Woppaburra TUMRA Aboriginal Corporation – Great Keppel Island)
  • Regional Arts Development Fund RADF (GKI Hideaway – Talent Search Workshop Sunset Sessions)
  • Provided PR support for the official openings and product launches of:

Warama Culture, Sunseeker SPF, GKI Boat Hire, Shore2Door initiative – Bodhi Surf, Nurim Yilan Tour (Warama Culture), Stay Yeppoon (Rosslyn Bay Resort), Wayfinder signage at GKI, Discovery Parks Coolwaters new cabin-style accommodation, Riviera Yeppoon, Portless Boats GKI

Corporate website and social media channels:

  • www.capricornenterprise.com.au – The site serves as a central hub for the latest industry news, regional developments and business opportunities – covering tourism, business, major projects, and economic growth
  • FACEBOOK (Capricorn Enterprise) – 6.5K followers
  • FACEBOOK (Support Local Buy Local) – 7K followers

Destination Marketing

  • Continued to Implement our2024-2032 Destination Tourism Strategy
  • Implemented On-line Booking Integration and itinerary development on destination website with affiliate integration for accommodation and tours on www.visitcapricorn.com.au
  • Sent 60 PR Pitches to travel writers via TravMedia Platform
  • Attended Media Marketplace (IMM) in Sydney (Feb) – 22 appointments with key travel writers
  • Destination represented in numerous Qld itineraries on international tourism trade partner websites thanks to years of relationship building, campaign activity, famils and webinars

Domestic Campaigns

International Campaigns (thanks to our Austrade EMDG Export Marketing Development Grant)

Advertising and Partnerships

  • Trade publication advertising – AOT Helloworld/VIVA Holidays (p38/39)
  • Embark Magazine – Qld Rail Aug/Sep 25 edition
  • RACQ Road Ahead – Great Inland Way Feature (Dig The Tropic Trail 8 page feature)
  • Updated the Capricorn Coast, Southern Great Barrier Reef media kit and SGBR tourism trade manual to share at ATE26 and ATE IMM26
  • Developed and distributed a 2026 Master Event Calendar, including significant date claimers with potential to enhance the destination on a major scale and increase visitation.
  • Distributed Quarterly (3) EDMs to Visit Capricorn subscribers
  • On behalf of our SGBR partners, distributed Quarterly (4) EDMs to SGBR subscribers
  • Provided event support and promotion via online platforms including social media, TravMedia, and https://livecapricorncoast.com.au/events/whats-on
  • Continued our successful partnership with Caravan Parks Association of Queensland and Drive Queensland with destination advertising in publications and front page exposure

TV Shows and Consumer Shows

RECORD number of agents trained (156) in one year across thirteen (13) training webinars:

  1. Australia Tours (Germany) – Sales Training Webinar – July 2025 – 1 Pax – Product Manager
  2. Prestige Travel (UK) Sales Training webinar – July 2025 – 102 Pax – Retail Agents, UK Wide
  3. Best of Travel – (Belgium) Sales Training Webinar – August 2025 – 5 Pax
  4. Tourism Australia virtual open day – August 2025 – 9 x Tourism Australia Team Members
  5. Australiareiser (Norway) – Sales Training Webinar – September 2025 – 13 Pax
  6. Tourism Australia – Aussie Specialist Trainer (France) – in-person – September 2025 – 1 Pax
  7. Audley Travel – Sales Training (in person) – October 2025 – 22 Pax (including 4 Aussie Specialists)
  8. Stewart Travel (UK) Sales Training Webinar – November 2025 – 4 Pax
  9. Freedom Destinations (UK) Sales Training Webinar – December 2025 – 12 Pax
  10. Tourism Australia – European Market Engagement – Aussie Specialist Program – December 2025 – 2 Pax
  11. House of Travel (HOT) Takapuna & Devonport – 1 Pax
  12. SALT (Sport and Leisure Travel) – 1 Pax
  13. Travelbag UK campaign discussions – 1 Pax

HOSTED 63 Tourism Trade & Industry partners across 21 Familiarisations to region

(either fully hosted, part hosted or self-drive):

  1. Dreamtime Travel (Karen Schoen) – July 2025
  2. Orange Journeys ITO Famil – 18-20 August 2025 (1 Pax)
  3. Mixed ITO Famil (ANZCRO, ATS Pacific/AOT Inbound, Pan Pacific) – 25-28 August 2025 (3 Pax)
  4. Patricia O’Callaghan – Director-General of the Department Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation – August 2025 (1 Pax)
  5. Backyard Travel Family (Jennifer Parkes) – 29 September – 5 October 2025 (4 Pax)
  6. Michael Turtle (Pacific Coast Way Media Famil) – September 2025 (1 Pax)
  7. Jodie Aczel (TEQ) and Nicole Thomas (ATDW) – 17-19 September 2025 (2 Pax)
  8. Narelle Bouveng (Frequent Freelancer program – TEQ) – October 2025 (1 Pax)
  9. Christine Danisio (German travel writer) – 19-20 October 2025 (2 Pax)
  10. Prestige Travel (Jenny Taylor-Page), Sussex Travel Company, The Holiday Village, Thames Valley Travel, Ponders Travel, Adams Travel – 18-22 October 2025 (6 Pax)
  11. Yvonne Lau (MESO Reisen Germany) – 23-29 November 2025 (2 Pax)
  12. Les Voyages Duclos (France) Aussie Specialist Famil – 21-24 November 2025 (2 Pax)
  13. Alexander Ruther (ARtravel Germany) – 14-16 January 2026 (2 Pax)
  14. Pre ATE Famil (Audley UK and Southern World Inbound) – 6-10 May (2 Pax)
  15. Experience QLD Kiwi – Mixed Famil – 26 June 2026 (10 Pax)
  16. Post ATE Famil (Jenny Taylor-Page, Prestige Travel UK) – 18-22 May 2026 (1 Pax) (Pumpkin Island inspection)
  17. Post ATE Famil (Birthe & Ralf, Australien und Reisen, Germany) – 19-25 May (2 Pax) (GKI/Hedlow/Yeppoon)
  18. TEQ/QTIC/DETSI colleagues– post Capricorn tour guide day June (4 Pax)
  19. TEQ Events colleagues June (3 Pax)
  20. Media famil June (3 Pax)
  21. NZ agent famil June (10 Pax)

Trade Shows

  • Attended Queensland is Calling: UK and Europe 2025 Trade Roadshow (Europe, September)
  • Held in Mallorca – program featured 48 face-to-face, 8-minute appointments with wholesale buyers from UK and Europe
  • Retail Agent Training events in Cologne, Germany and Manchester, UK
  • Also hosted targeted UK sales activity, including in-store training at Audley Travel’s head office in Witney. Also visiting Travelbag’s top-performing store in Winchester and connect with teams at Travelbag Cheltenham
  • Attended Queensland is Calling Roadshow NZ 2026 (March)
  • Roadshow engaged the Kiwi market across Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin
  • SGBR was represented, conducting trade and media engagements, alongside additional sales training and in-store visits with House of Travel.
  • Targeted RTO luncheon with key Product Managers, attended by CEO Craig Davidsone and major partners including Houde of Travel, Flight Centre and Helloworld
  • Attended Inbound Queensland (Sydney, March 2026)
  • Operators represented were Koorana Crocodile Farm, High Valley Dawn Permaculture Farm, Keppel Konnections, Seaspray Yeppoon, Freedom Fast Cats
  • Operator attendance was fully subsidised by TEQ
  • 3 RTOs represented in the full B2B event on 12th March
  • 240 appointments
  • Attended AUSTRALIAN TOURISM EXCHANGE (ATE) 2026 (Adelaide, May)
  • 88 appointments Capricorn Coast SGBR booth; GKI Hideaway, Freedom Fast Cats, Koorana Crocodile Farm, Dreamtime Resorts (Stay Yeppoon properties) also had their own booths and appointment schedules within the SGBR section.
  • (Via TEQ) TA Australia on Tour – France (prizes provided by Capricorn Coast, SGBR)
  • Events in Lyon, Paris and Toulouse
  • 172 French travel agents
  • Prizes showcasing the region were awarded – accommodation, tours and experiences
  • Two winning agents were both from respected travel networks
  • TEQ ITB Germany (prizes provided by Capricorn Coast, SGBR)
  • Capricorn Coast provided one of the giveaways
  • Included High Valley Dawn Permaculture Farm, Kraken Adventure Day Cruise, Cathedral Cave Tour

Investment Attraction

Capricorn Enterprise meets regularly with interested investors to the region, presenting the latest statistical research and ‘on the ground’ intel.  Capricorn Enterprise also meets regularly with Local government representatives (LSC) to advocate for strategic investment opportunities in the region which will maintain our environmental, financial and social sustainability. 

Visitor Servicing

  • We own and operate the Accredited Capricorn Coast Visitor Information Centre (VIC), which is open 7 days a week and 363 days per year.  Our VIC Supervisor supports 39 wonderful volunteers who greet some 20,000 visitors per annum and answer 1,200 phone enquiries
  • Planned, developed, and designed the destination 2026/27 Visitor and Lifestyle Guide – the primary piece of marketing collateral produced by Capricorn Enterprise (distributed to all Accredited VICs in Queensland and major highways into Qld, 10 caravan and camping shows across the country, and broadly distributed throughout Central Qld)
  • “Capricorn Coast Region Welcomes You” program – ongoing support for FREE platform
  • Great Keppel Island Map which promotes six main walking/hiking trails
  • Caravan Park Map which promotes Member properties
  • Capricorn Coast Street Map on behalf of Livingstone Shire Council

Leisure website and social channels:

  • www.visitcapricorn.com.au
  • https://livecapricorncoast.com.au/  (includes Rockhampton region) – a one stop liveability platform – jobs, education, health, events, real estate, community groups, visitor information and much more
  • http://www.tastecapricorncoast.com.au/  – Capricorn Coast Food Trail project
  • www.digthetropic.com.au
  • FACEBOOK (Visit Capricorn leisure) –25K followers
  • FACEBOOK (Southern Great Barrier Reef) – 45K followers
  • FACEBOOK (Taste Capricorn Coast) –2.8K followers
  • INSTAGRAM (Visit Capricorn leisure) – 13K followers
  • INSTAGRAM (Southern Great Barrier Reef) –42K followers
  • INSTAGRAM (Taste Capricorn Coast) – 1K followers
  • YOUTUBE (Visit Capricorn)

Visitation

Year ending December 2025 – TRA International Visitor Survey (IVS) Data and DoTS (Domestic Tourism Statistics) data – official visitation, night and expenditure for the Capricorn Coast Region, including Rockhampton.

International Visitors – 38,000; International Nights 743,000; International Expenditure $62.5 Million

While international visitor numbers remain stable, the average length of Stay for International Visitors has grown from 8 nights year ending Dec 2024 to 19.8 nights year ending Dec 2025.  We have seen an annual change of 126.6% for our international visitor nights as well as a significant increase in expenditure.  In fact, our international leisure visitor nights and expenditure tripled in 2025 compared to 2024. International visitors stay longer and spend more.

Domestic Visitors – 779,000 Trips; Domestic Nights – 2,376,000; Domestic Expenditure $566.8 Million

Average length of Stay for Domestic Visitors is between 3 and 3.5 nights depending on the quarter.

Source: Tourism Research Australia NVS

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