Against all odds, the Bundaberg region’s tourism industry has established itself as a force to be reckoned with over the past year, with 12 months of tireless tourism trade work culminating in some of our leading operators attending the nation’s top tourism trade event, the Australian Tourism Exchange.

Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE) is the largest tourism trade event in Australia. This year the event includes an in-person event held at the International Convention Centre, Sydney from 6 – 9 June with up to 65, 13-minute appointments connecting buyers from Australia and New Zealand to Australia’s leading tourism products. A virtual event is also being held from 10 -17 June connecting the rest of the world buyers to Australian tourism product to exchange knowledge and make business connections.

On 6 May 2021, Tourism Australia launched the next iteration of the Holiday Here This Year campaign.

The campaign encourages Australians to take an epic holiday and experience some of Australia’s iconic tourism offerings while also helping tourism businesses and communities to thrive. This latest activation showcases internationally reliant tourism regions in every state and territory to encourage domestic audiences to start taking those longer trips and travel like international consumers do. Tourism Australia have also created an interactive holiday quiz to help consumers choose their next big adventure.

Bundaberg Tourism and the regions trade active operators have continued to promote the destination virtually to Key Distribution Partners both domestic and international, despite border closures, ensuring agents around the world are familiar with Bundaberg and the Southern Great Barrier Reef and how to include our region in their client’s itineraries when they start traveling again.

A continually growing industry, tourism and hospitality provides a life-long career with a wide-range of opportunities for growth and advancement.

From working in a kitchen, to sharing indigenous culture, to greeting guests on check in at a hotel, the tourism industry has so many potential pathways to take, that can bring a lifetime of learning and employment. 

With different pathways to the industry including straight into the workforce, taking up a traineeship, or TAFE and university studies, there is something to suit everyone. From roles that thrive on creativity such as chefs and graphic designers, to roles where you can interact with people from diverse cultures and backgrounds on a daily basis such as tour guides, booking agents and front of house accommodation managers, the industry is full of opportunities! 

As restrictions continue to ease across the nation and people look to take their long-awaited holidays, sentiment and confidence towards tourism and events is increasing.

As one of the largest industries in Australia and an important driver of our local economy employing over 5,000 workers prior to the pandemic, it is wonderful to see Queenslanders getting out and supporting the tourism industry.