Appeal for ‘ Magnetic Coast’ plan
A TOWNSVILLE businessman has called for locals to continue to band together and drive strong tourism ideas to enhance Townsville’s appeal to visitors.
NQ Realty property consultant Greg Banks said the key to putting Townsville on the map was to market the “Magnetic Coast” as the ultimate, all- inclusive summer holiday destination.
“You’ve got the Sunshine Coast, the Gold Coast, the Whitsunday Coast, why don’t we start calling ourselves the Magnetic Coast?” Mr Banks said.
“You’ve got Magnetic Island right there.
“Between Hinchinbrook and above Bowen, there’s the Magnetic Coast – let’s get some tourists happening.”
Mr Banks said Townsville was between the world’s best holiday destinations in Cairns and the Whitsundays and present tourism marketing was not good enough.
“Up north they say ‘ where the rainforest meets the sea’, well this is where the country meets the sea,” he said.
Townsville Enterprise tourism and events director Bridget Woods said marketing the region as “Townsville North Queensland” was easily identifiable to domestic and international visitors.
“The marketing of our region has been built upon a strong base of being known as ‘ Townsville North Queensland’, which encompasses partnerships between Townsville Enterprise and the councils from Townsville, Burdekin, Hinchinbrook, Charters Towers and Palm Island,” she said.
“It was determined that by including the city of Townsville in the name ensured a clear geographical pinpoint on a map for potential visitors and the inclusion of ‘ North Queensland’ demonstrates the depth of the region.”
Mr Banks said ideas such as emphasising Magnetic Island’s koala population and subsidising ferries for tourists should also be considered.
Since selling his construction business two years ago, Mr Banks said he had seen Townsville floundering.
“I’ve spoken to a lot of people around town who are suffering,” he said. “Power, costs of leases, wages and the next thing that’s killed it is just a lack of numbers – all the people who have left.”
Ms Woods said community members interested in following TEL’s tourism marketing initiatives were encouraged to visit the TEL and townsvillenorthqueensland. com. au websites.