Tourism Trade & Partnerships

Despite the impacts of COVID-19 and the restrictions around international travel, both domestic and international tourism trade continue to be key marketing partners, in preparation for the re-opening of international borders.

The United Kingdom, Germany, New Zealand, USA, France and the Nordic region make up our region’s top 6 international source markets for the Southern Great Barrier Reef destination and our Capricorn region.

TRADE EVENTS & TRAINING > 2021 Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE)

The 2020 Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE) was cancelled due to COVID, however in 2021, the tourism industry was ready and raring to meet and do business with travel wholesalers and agents from around Australia and the world. The annual event, delivered by Tourism Australia, involved a hybrid format which brought together both face-to-face and virtual components to ensure the tourism industry could meet, exchange knowledge, and establish important business

connections. [SEE IMAGE 2 & 4]

Capricorn Enterprise attended 45 in-person and 45 online appointments on behalf of the Capricorn SGBR region and have reported exceptional reception of our region’s product offerings. Individual local operators including Oshen Yeppoon, Great Keppel Island Hideaway/Keppel Konnections, Pumpkin Island, Empire/Edge Apartment Hotels were also in attendance, together with our SGBR colleagues from Gladstone and Bundaberg, making our larger destination brand extremely well represented.

> Tourism Australia Marketplace Europe/UK 2021

Capricorn Enterprise participated in 30 quality appointments with key Europe and UK tourism trade partners held over three mornings/nights from 6am to 10am and 6pm to 10pm daily. Australia Marketplace Online – UK & Europe was the virtual solution for Tourism Australia’s physical Australia Marketplace UK & Europe event, which provided an opportunity for representatives from the Australian tourism industry to establish and maintain business relationships with key qualified travel agencies and tour operators from across UK & Europe. The event was an impressive fully virtual and interactive exhibition and networking experience which allowed buyers to browse a virtual exhibition of Australian sellers as well as conduct 1:1 business appointments of 10 minutes each. [SEE IMAGE 5]

> Queensland Tourism Xchange USA

Capricorn Enterprise represented the SGBR destination at TEQ's Queensland Tourism Exchange USA in August 2020. Virtual meetings were conducted with approximately 60 international trade representatives from the USA. Due to the time difference, meeting started at 5.40am and concluded at 9.00am.

> Trade Travel Expo

Capricorn Enterprise was thrilled to showcase the highlights of our diverse destination at the Trade Travel Expo, held in Sydney in June. [SEE IMAGE 1 & 3] The Capricorn Coast destination was presented to over 100 Probus South Pacific delegates, enticing them to plan their next holiday in our region, planning their itineraries to encompass the Capricorn Coast, Yeppoon, Emu Park, Byfield, Rockhampton, Great Keppel Island and Southern Great Barrier Reef. From accommodation, experiences, tours and culinary delights, attendees enjoyed hearing about our destination and we look forward to welcoming them to our region in the future.

TOURISM & EVENTS QUEENSLAND (TEQ)

CEO Leanne Coddington and Acting Group Executive Partnerships, Therese Phillips, visited our destination in July 2020, with Leanne experiencing the Capricorn Caves, Pumpkin Island and Great Keppel Island for the very first time! As part of a whirlwind road trip around this great state, Leanne and her husband drove from Longreach to Emerald, catching up with our Central Highlands’ colleagues at lunch, before traversing the Tropic of Capricorn, detouring through historic Mount Morgan. A small industry dinner was enjoyed at Headricks Lane and after an overnight stay at Empire Apartment Hotel, an early morning visit to the Capricorn Caves, was followed by an afternoon onboard Freedom Fast Cats Wild duck to Pumpkin Island and Great Keppel Island, followed by another small industry dinner at Vue Wine Bar and Restaurant.

KEPPEL TURTLE FUND

Capricorn Enterprise has been successful in obtaining $30,000 to assist the Keppel Turtle Fund in constructing 15 sculptures for the “Great Keppel Island Marine Environmental Awareness/Education Trail” thanks to the Regional Tourism Bushfire Recovery grants program, an Australian Government bushfire recovery initiative.

2

3

1

4

5 6