Trade mission taking off
Businesses get on board Access NZ
TOOWOOMBA and Surat Basin Enterprise is eyeing off a full plane for its next overseas delegation with already 29 bookings taken for Access New Zealand.
With a target of about 158 people, TSBE executive chairman Shane Charles said early interest in the trip had exceeded expectations.
A strong focus on tourism in the trip’s program had also seen new passengers get on board TSBE’s second overseas delegation.
“Those who have already booked are from all different sectors,” Mr Charles said.
“The people that are joining already know it is the best networking trip of their lives and the destination is of interest to them, and the price point is where its at for them to work on their business.”
Mr Charles said the New Zealand trip would coincide with the 2018 Queensland Budget which meant no state ministers would be aboard the flight.
He was confident Federal Government ministers would take part in the trip which will mark the second international passenger flight from Wellcamp Airport.
It replaces the previously planned Hong Kong venture which had been earmarked to depart last September.
The Hong Kong mission had a total project price of about $1.8 million and was cancelled after lacklustre interest from the region’s business community.
“Because of the early uptake in tickets there is some prospect that people will miss out so people need to make sure they get in early,” he said.
Stonestreets Travel general manager Natalie Foster is among the first to book her seat on the Qantas 737-800 on June 11.
“We can see some clear parallels (between Toowoomba and New Zealand) and we work with a number of providers so it’s great to get access to the more senior members,” she said.
“We’ve been involved in local tourism for many years and we’re very excited to see the momentum building on (tourism) and to keep contributing to that.”