Southern Great Barrier Reef Set to Shine at ATE24
The Southern Great Barrier Reef is set to bring the warmth and beauty of Queensland to the heart of a chilly Melbourne winter next week in preparation for the Australian Tourism Exchange 2024 (ATE24)
ATE24 is Australia’s premier annual tourism sales event, attracting over 1500 Australian sellers’ delegates and 700 buyer delegates from more than 30 countries across the globe, and 2024 marks the 44th year of the event.
An international media program will also be held as part of ATE24, where the team will participate in key networking events, attend press updates, and meet with journalists and media representatives from New Zealand, Germany, Italy, Europe, France, America and more.
The week of sales meetings, media pitching and networking is a highlight in the annual tourism calendar, presenting an opportunity for Southern Great Barrier Reef (SGBR) operators to present their tourism offerings to a global audience and promote our region’s position as a coveted destination for tourism in Australia.
Represented by the three Regional Tourism Organisations (Bundaberg Tourism, Gladstone Area Promotion and Development and Capricorn Enterprise), a consortium of trade-ready SGBR operators are set to showcase our region on an international stage.
This year’s participants include:
• Lady Elliot Island
• Taribelang Bunda Cultural Tours
• Lady Musgrave Experience
• Kalki Moon Distilling Co
• 1770 LARC! Tours
• Aldesta – Heron and Wilson Islands
• Great Keppel Island Hideaway
• Empire/Edge Apartments
• Funtastic Cruises and Keppel Dive
• Breeze Holiday Parks
• Freedom Fast Cats
• Koorana Crocodile Farm
• Reef Distillers
• Mantra Gladstone
• 1770 Diver Spear & Sport
• 1770 Reef Great Barrier Reef Eco Tours
Bundaberg Tourism CEO Katherine Reid said that ATE24 will be a catalytic agent for Southern Great Barrier Reef operators to elevate their brand visibility.
“ATE24 will be an opportunity for Bundaberg, Gladstone and Capricorn regions to reinforce the Southern Great Barrier Reef brand as a familiar, and sought-after destination for audiences worldwide,” she said.
“The wide array of tourism experiences we have in the Bundaberg region are key contributors to the allure of the Southern Great Barrier Reef as a must-visit destination for travellers.”
Nicola Smith, Chief Executive Officer of Gladstone Area Promotion and Development echoed this sentiment.
“The Gladstone Region within the Southern Great Barrier Reef is a hidden gem awaiting discovery by a broader audience.”
“With it’s untapped potential, we are excited to spotlight our region’s natural beauty and hospitality to delegates at this year’s event,” she said.
Mary Carroll, Chief Executive Officer of Capricorn Enterprise said that the benefits of events like ATE24 to regions extend beyond direct tourism outcomes.
“By supporting the visibility of operators in the SGBR region and fostering partnerships, events like ATE24 contribute towards sustainable, region-wide economic development and create new opportunities for growth.”
“Capricorn Enterprise is committed to leveraging events like this to promote the Capricorn region for travellers seeking adventure, rich culture and unforgettable experiences.”
The Australian Tourism Exchange will take place between Sunday 19 May 2024 through to Thursday 23 May 2024 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre and is delivered by Tourism Australia and supported by all state tourism organisations and additional supporting partners.
For more information, and to view the program for this year’s event, visit the ATE24 website.
**ENDS**
