Bundaberg and the Southern Great Barrier Reef is back on the world stage with the region on show at a number of major international tourism trade missions and events.
Bundaberg Tourism attended Australia’s first tourism trade event to be held in Europe since 2019 - Tourism Australia’s Market Place UK/Europe and Tourism & Events Queensland’s Destination Australia Showcase, both held in London in November 2022.
As the first major UK and EU trade mission for Australia’s national tourism industry since COVID, this event provided an incredible opportunity for Bundaberg Tourism to establish and maintain business relationships with key qualified travel agencies and tour operators from UK and Europe on behalf of the region’s industry.
Insights into the recovery of these important markets indicate that as of August 2022, arrivals from the UK and Continental Europe had already reached 60% of 2019 figures, and the intention to travel is also strong with searches for ‘flights to Australia’ already exceeding those of 2019.
The mission was packed two days of 55 pre-scheduled appointments, a showcase that attracted more than 130 highly trained retail agents, referred to as “Aussie Specialists”, and networking functions.
Bundaberg Tourism’s Trade & Industry Development Executive, Loni Hammond, said “After 3 years of virtual events and massive changes in the tourism world, the importance of meeting face-to-face with our European partners cannot be understated.”
“We met with both product managers, who contract our operators for travel companies, as well as front-line staff who guide and advise potential visitors on what to do when visiting Australia. With so many new people in the industry, the event was a vital opportunity to train up their staff many of whom are fresh in the industry as well as receive updates on products and destinations.”
“It was abundantly clear that Queensland remains a highly desirable destination for European tourists and that the experiences of Bundaberg and the Southern Great Barrier Reef are continuing to drive international demand.”
The events kick off an enormous 6 months of tourism trade activity for the Bundaberg region, which will see:
- intensive mentoring for tourism operators thanks to a state-wide projected run by Queensland’s 13 Regional Tourism Organisations with funding support from the State Government;
- a major Southern Great Barrier Reef East Coast sales mission to visit key buyers and travel agents in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne; and
- the Australian Tourism Exchange, the nation’s premier tourism trade event which will be held on the Gold Coast in May 2023.
About Bundaberg Tourism
Bundaberg Tourism is the Bundaberg region’s peak body for tourism and hospitality and one of the thirteen Regional Tourism Organisations as recognised by Tourism and Events Queensland. BT’s key priority areas are focused on driving visitation to the destination, as we strive to build and maintain a healthy and sustainable regional tourism economy.
Bundaberg Tourism have spent more than a decade working in partnership with the Capricorn and Gladstone regions to raise awareness of the Southern Great Barrier Reef region as a unique leisure destination and driving demand from international tourists.
For media information please contact:
Ellie Tonkin
Marketing Manager, Bundaberg Tourism
0400 432 366
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