A huge boost to outback tourism

A DISPLAY for Australia’s largest dinosaur, a glass-floored bridge for visitors to enjoy the Cobbold Gorge and upmarket artesian baths at Julia Creek are among 15 new outback tourism projects announced at the Queensland Tourism Awards.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the successful projects to benefit from the government’s

$10 million Outback Tourism Infrastructure fund during her speech at the sell-out event.

“From Mt Isa to Julia Creek, Diamantina Shire, Barcaldine, Maranoa and Cunnamulla, we’re investing in projects that we know will lure more tourists to the Queensland outback,” she said.

“Tourism is vital to the outback’s future and this funding will help ensure we deliver the infrastructure needed to create more tourism jobs for the future.

“New attractions are critical to ensure we diversify the outback economy and help sustain communities, particularly through volatile weather events like drought.”

Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones said the $10 million Outback Tourism Infrastructure fund was part of the State Government’s record $180 million investment in Queensland tourism.

“Tourism accounts for around 3700 jobs in this region,” Ms Jones said.

“Over the last three years, international visitor expenditure in outback Queensland has grown by more than 11 per cent to $617.3 million.

“Outback Queensland has the potential to be a global hotspot for international tourists.

“This funding will see the right infrastructure in place to provide new and unique experiences for tourists to outback Queensland – one of our greatest points of difference over competing destinations.”