Sports the next big thing
THE Toowoomba region has come of age with our next big tourism draw-card tipped to be focussed around sport.
It was announced just this week the Gold Coast Titans would take on the St George Illawarra Dragons in the first NRL match to be played in Toowoomba. That match is already being tipped to sell out.
According to Tourism Darling Downs CEO Ruth Wetmore the region made a name for itself in terms of our culinary offerings which were on par with anywhere in the world and now sports would be the “next cab off the rank”.
“My view is that Toowoomba as a region has come of age,” Ms Wetmore said.
“Tourism Australia research indicates visitors the world over want three key constructs - safety, natural beauty and an expectation of great local cuisine. I believe we have those in spades.”
Ms Wetmore said this week a Malaysian contingent from southeast Asian events management company E Plus Global toured the region.
The visit was in the hopes of bringing sporting events to the city including running and mountain biking next year and even the possibility of beach volleyball in 2019.
“Virtually on a daily basis we are uncovering more amazing gems in this region and we need to tell that story,” Ms Wetmore said.
She said the tourism group was currently in the process of putting together packages to bring the Gold Coast’s Commonwealth Games visitors up the range.
With 1.5 million foreign visitors expected over the two-week period, Ms Wetmore said it was a great move to encourage the travellers to see more of Queensland.
There are about two
million people who visits the Darling Downs region each year made up of 80 per cent Queensland visitors, 18 per cent from elsewhere in the country and about two per
cent international.
Asides from sporting events and our culinary delights, Ms Wetmore said there was a long list of attractions that already drew visitors here - from our parks and gardens and premier mountain bike trails at Jubilee Park to Cobb and Co Museum to the Empire Theatre.
“We have incredible diversity in terms of what we have to offer.”
The Southern Queensland Country Tourism team is also trying to draw more
visitors by showcasing “experiences”.
At the launch of the new initiative earlier this month its CEO Mary-Clare Power said it was a new direction for the group.
Ms Power said they wanted to find the best experiences and put them at the forefront of marketing and promotion.
The new program will allow it to implement a consumer-driven approach to help deliver its “best address on earth” promise to visitors.