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Tourism grant to bring more Kiwis to Central Queensland and the Southern Great Barrier Reef

Capricorn Tourism will receive more than $220,000 in State government funding for two projects to improve its tourism

Capricorn Tourism will receive more than $220,000 in State government funding for two projects to improve its tourism credentials, Tourism Minister Peter Lawlor announced.

Minister Lawlor said the first grant of $122,500 would go to Capricorn Tourism to lead a project to develop a joint marketing strategy with Tourism Queensland, Bundaberg and North Burnett Tourism and Gladstone Area and Promotion Development Ltd to promote the Central Queensland and Southern Great Barrier Reef to New Zealanders.

Announcing the Queensland Tourism Network Grant Scheme funding, Tourism Minister Peter Lawlor said the grant would be used to develop a collaborative strategy to promote Central Queensland and the Southern Great Barrier Reef as a ‘new' destination for New Zealanders.

"New Zealanders are Queensland's largest international market and one of those with the highest number of repeat visitors," Mr Lawlor said.

"By working together Capricorn Tourism, Bundaberg & North Burnett Tourism and Gladstone Area and Promotion Development Ltd have shown great initiative in seeking to bring new visitors to their regions and are to be congratulated."

Member for Keppel Paul Hoolihan said Capricorn Tourism would also receive a $99,000 grant.

"This grant under the scheme is to implement a merger between the region's three local tourism groups - the Central Highlands Tourism Organisation, Capricorn Coast Tourism Organisation and Rockhampton Tourist & Business Information into the larger regional tourism organisation.

"This is great news for the region because it means there will be a more collaborative effort in marketing the Capricorn Coast to tourists."

Member for Rockhampton Robert Schwarten said Capricorn Tourism would also benefit from a $420,976 grant project led by Tourism Whitsundays.

"The Queensland Tourism Network Grant Scheme funding will involve eight regional tourism organisations working together to develop a website template that could be standardised across all destinations.

"The websites will be customised to ensure each destination's individuality is maintained, but they will fall under a standard template which will make it easier for visitors to find information, particularly when travelling between destinations."

The project is being led by Tourism Whitsundays and includes input from Fraser Coast and South Burnett Tourism, Mackay Tourism, Bundaberg and North Burnett Tourism, Capricorn Tourism, Gladstone Area Promotion and Development Ltd, Toowoomba and Golden West Regional Tourist Association and Southern Downs and Granite Belt Regional Tourism.

Mr Lawlor said the grant application process was announced in February this year with funding available to a range of not-for-profit tourism groups including regional and local tourism organisations, local government tourism departments and divisions, and tourism associations that are members of the Queensland Tourism Industry Council.

"The grants fell under two categories - funding for projects to enable tourism organisations to streamline their current operations - for example by merging with other tourism bodies; and for organisations to collaborate on new tourism marketing or product development initiatives that aren't already part of their core operations.

"Capricorn Tourism submitted applications under both categories and I am happy to report was successful in each."

Mr Lawlor said the Queensland Tourism Network Grant Scheme would allocate $3 million over the next three years as part of a commitment to help the state's tourism organisations develop a stronger and more cohesive network.

"The aim of the grant scheme was to encourage tourism organisations to think outside their ‘business as usual' squares," he said.

"We wanted them to come to us with proposals that would help them build a stronger and more efficient tourism network in Queensland," he said.

"The calibre of grant submissions was extremely high and I congratulate Capricorn Tourism on the success of their application."

The grants are a result of the 2008 State Government review of Queensland's tourism network which resulted in a series of reforms which included encouraging tourism organisations to collaborate in order to create a more efficient and streamlined industry.