Monday, April 11, 2011
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Easter Tourism Dollars Flow
EASTER – the traditional boom time for tourism – could be the saviour for tourism operators in the Gladstone region this year.
Some places are already booked out and many are reporting increased bookings in the lead-up to the combined school holidays and Easter period.
Lady Musgrave Tours marketing manager Rob Moore said he did a call around of the accommodation in town and was told booking numbers were up and there were bookings in the week after Easter, which he said was a good sign.
“They’ve slowly started to pick up and people are on the road again. We’re looking pretty good at the moment,” he said.
After a disastrous summer with flooding, Cyclone Yasi and the misconception that the whole of Queensland was under water, tourist operators are looking for a good Easter.
Mr Moore said the initiatives from Tourism Queensland and Tourism Australia were helping the industry get back on its feet.
“We’ve signed the Queensland Pledge and we’re getting the word out that we are here,” he said.
A big push into the China market was expected to have positive results for local operators.
“The (Great Barrier) reef is a big drawcard, it’s what they want to do when they come here,” Mr Moore said.
Kroombit Park owner Carol Sandilands said they had quite a few bookings and were getting a lot more inquiries.
The park is nestled in two hectares of eucalypt forest on Lochenbar Cattle Station, 35km from Biloela, which offers an Australian outback experience.
“It was pretty standstill during the flooding, but now we’re seeing a lot more campervans and caravans,” she said.
“We did have a large backpacker market but this hasn’t picked up yet.”
Inquiries were coming from Brisbane and throughout Queensland, as well as Gladstone locals looking to take visiting relatives to Kroombit.
Tourism Minister Jan Jarratt launched yet another tourism initiative yesterday.
Five hundred backpackers in Sydney will be offered free bus and rail travel to Queensland when they book five nights of accommodation in at least two Queensland destinations.
Book Quality Gladstone Accommodation at Metro Hotel and Apartments Gladstone
http://www.gladstoneobserver.com.au/story/2011/04/08/easter-tourism-dollars-flow-gladstone-region/
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Gladstone's Bucket List
WITH the Top 100 things to do in Australia before you die list released last week, we thought we’d do our own Gladstone-specific bucket list. Here’s the first 30 – in no particular order – to get you started.
There are a wide variety of experiences in the region – from fishing and boating to arts and culture, as well as the beaches and parks.
We have the upcoming Harbour Festival, which draws in 70,000 visitors to the region each Easter.
There are a multitude of events during the week-long celebration of the Brisbane to Gladstone yacht race.
Places like Baffle Creek are ideal for camping, fishing and sight seeing and it is only about an hour from Gladstone.
Just outside the Agnes Water township a family can stay at the Workman’s Beach Campsite for as little as $17 a night.
Other campsites in the region offer similar cheap rates, making it affordable for families to holiday in their own backyard.
The Australian Traveller Top 100 was determined by a panel of 10 respected Australians, who have each explored most corners of the country.
The panel included Lonely Planet founder Tony Wheeler, Getaway reporter Catriona Rowntree, travel industry pioneer Bill Peach and Blue Wiggle Anthony Field.
The three Gladstone region experiences included in the top 100 were: camp on Lady Musgrave Island; dive the Great Barrier Reef; and take the family to a Great Barrier Reef island.
Gladstone's bucket list
1. Test your hiking and climbing skills by climbing Mt Larcom
2. Visit Beautiful Betsy at Kroombit Tops National Park
3. Find out how Gladstone really ticks by taking a free industry tour
4. Dive the southern Great Barrier Reef
5. Get a permit and go spend the night camping and fishing at The Lillies
6. Learn to surf at Agnes Water
7. Attend the Mt Larcom Show
8. Take a leisurely stroll, cycle or run on the Turtleway Cycle Way at Boyne-Tannum
9. Learn to ride a horse at a farmstay
10. Grab some fish and chips and spend a romantic sunset on Tannum Beach
11. Swim to the Pontoon at Lake Awoonga – sunbathe and swim back
12. Dance – like no one is watching – in front of the stage at Harbour Festival
13. Jog through the Toondoon Gardens
14. Feed the turtles at Police Creek
15. Join Toastmasters and face the fear while improving yourself
16. Go to the QAL lookout at night
17. Head down to one of the playgrounds at the Marina with the kids
18. Jump in a four-wheel drive and head south from Agnes Water through Deepwater and come out at Baffle Creek
19. See the winner of the Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race come into the Marina at Easter
20. Head north from Seventeen Seventy through Eurimbula and up to Turkey Beach
21. Catch some barra in the Awoonga Dam or Boyne River
22. Check out the lookout on Auckland Point
23. Watch the kite surfers at Tannum Sands beach
24. Take a loaf of bread to the duck ponds and feed the ducks, turtles and eels
25. Check out Heron, Wilson or Lady Musgrave Island
26. Visit the Calliope Historical Village
27. Attend the annual Harbour Festival at Easter
28. See the history at the maritime museum
29. Check out the 1770 Captain Cook Festival
30. Visit the Gladstone Regional Art Gallery and Museum
What do you think are the ‘must do’ things in the Gladstone region? Tell us: gladstone.newsroom@gladstoneobserver.com.au
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Monday, April 4, 2011
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Capricorn Coast Tourism Operators Recognized for Eco-Consciousness
18 Capricorn Coast tourism operators have been recognised today for their ongoing efforts to make their businesses more sustainable, announced Minister for Tourism, Manufacturing and Small Business Jan Jarratt.
Ms Jarratt said the awards were part of Tourism Queensland’s Sustainable Regions Project, designed to reduce the environmental impact of tourism and make visitors see the Capricorn Coast as a sustainable tourism destination.
“The Sustainable Regions Project is the first program in Australia to work with regional operators across the state to help transform Queensland into a domestically and internationally recognised sustainable tourism destination,” Ms Jarratt said.
“We want holidaymakers to feel comfortable that their visit to Queensland will be an environmentally ‘guilt-free’ experience.”
Keppel MP Paul Hoolihan said the program had been a resounding success across the region, with participating tourism operators having already reporting strong outcomes.
“One great example is the staff on Pumpkin Island who are minimising their ecological footprint through sustainable operations which save water, power and reduce emissions,” he said.
“In November 2009 the island was awarded Advanced Ecotourism certification and has also been benchmarking its progress towards sustainability through the internationally recognised EarthCheck Assessed benchmarking program.
“In Yeppoon, Capricorn Resort has its own water treatment facility, including grey water, and has replaced its emergency lightings with LEDs to reduce energy consumption, which has saved the business an estimated $750 a year.
“Capricorn Resort is also investigating the use of solar pre-heat systems for hot water units.
“Tour operator Capricorn Caves has recently upgraded its recycling program, provided environmental training programs to staff and reviewed its training manual to include a substantial section on environmental awareness.
“Capricorn Caves has also consulted with its local electrician to replace older lighting in the caves and also completed an energy audit with Ergon late last year.
Tourism Queensland CEO Anthony Hayes said Capricorn Coast Sustainable Regions Project had also been piloted in six other regions - Airlie Beach, Magnetic Island, North Stradbroke Island, Mackay Hinterland, Winton and Agnes Water/Seventeen Seventy.
“Tourism Queensland has been working with regional tourism organisations, local councils, consultants and tourism operators to move Queensland towards being recognised as a sustainable state,” Mr Hayes said.
“Nearly 66 businesses across the state have committed to reducing their combined carbon footprint by 1,235.76 tonnes of C02 annually - that’s the equivalent of taking 289 cars off the road for a year!”
“Queensland has some of the world’s most amazing natural environments and experiences on the planet, so it’s in the best interest of all to ensure we protect and sustain the natural beauty of our state.”
(Source: www.tq.com.au)
Book Gladstone CBD Accommodation at Metro Hotel and Apartments Gladstone
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)