Backing regional tourism and innovation

Jeffrey McAlister, Deputy Director-General, Tourism & Major Events

12 September 2019

Agenda

• The Queensland tourism industry

• Tourism trends and opportunities

• Disruptive technology and the tourism sector

• Climate change and the tourism sector

• Building business resilience

• Questions

The Queensland tourism industry

Tourism is worth $27 billion

to the state’s economy

Represents more than

a quarter of GRP in some regions

Supports 236,000 jobs – that’s one in 10

across the State

Contributing more than

a third of employment in some regions

Tourism trends and opportunities

Megatrends

• Travel mobility

• Evolving visitor demands

• Enabling technologies

Emerging trends

• Indigenous tourism

• Nature based experiences

Disruptive technology and the tourism sector

Digital champion

- cryptocurrency

Barriers to adopt technology

• Lack of know-how

• Unsure of cost-benefit

• Resistance to change

• Poor internet connectivity and digital

capability

• Limited digital capability and/or inability

to access training opportunities

Climate change and the tourism sector

Orpheus Island Lodge

– 100% solar powered

Queensland tourism relies

heavily on natural assets

Local governments can:

• Consider climate change

impacts in all future planning

• Encourage adoption of

sustainable and green practice

• Incentivise climate change

champions

Climate change and the tourism sector

Advancing Queensland Priorities

• Protect The Great Barrier Reef

• Jobs in a strong economy

• Give all of our children a great start

• Keep Queenslanders healthy

• Keep communities safe

• Be a responsive Government

Building business resilience

Supporting regions where tourism is

important to their recovery from the

effects of a natural disaster.

Tourism Recovery Package

• Regional Queensland Tourism Inventory

and Infrastructure Resilience Program

• Event Resilience and Sustainability

• Tourism Business Resilience Program

• Outback Tourism Education Program

Thank you.

Any questions?