Tourism.....

Tourism is one of the 4 pillars of industry in the Maranoa region (The other three being the resources industry, Agriculture and commerce) however, I have concerns that a lot of our tourist promotion is about looking to the past. With the exception of some attractions such as the Saleyards, Carnarvon Gorge and the Great artesian spa, the majority of our tourism promotion is about “look at what we had” more than “Look at what we have”

I’m not suggesting for one minute that we should not be celebrating our past, on the contrary, if we do not acknowledge our past, we devalue our future. The operation of tourism enterprises such as the Big Rig is an invaluable asset to our community and must be fostered and supported.

We should be celebrating what makes the Maranoa the pace it is now as well. Its Oil and Gas industry, its agricultural production, its biodiversity and its lifestyle.

Studies have shown, that for every dollar we bring in to a community from outside, its worth $3 already going around in the community. Tourism is one of those industries that has a bright future and should form part of the mix of any healthy local economy.

As the population gets older, there will continue to be great numbers of retirees doing “the grand tour” of the nation before they settle down to finally retire. Lots of these tourists are looking for “doing” opportunities in their travels, not just “seeing” opportunities. This is a challenge for us to actively seek out tourism experiences more so that tourist attractions. Farmstays, ecotourism, prospecting and bushwalking are some experiences that spring to mind.

In 20 years when the resources bubble has burst, we will need to return to the other industries in the region to maintain our towns. We need to be doing the background work now to make the transition as smooth as possible.