Tourism is one of Queensland’s most important industries, providing employment for a range of different individuals from hospitality workers through to dedicated tourism ventures.
In fact, the 2015 State of the Industry report from Destination Queensland found that the number of people employed in the sector has reached 230,000, representing one in 10 positions within the state. Many of these roles are also creating strong demand for traineeships in Queensland that can fill important skill gaps.
Supporting this sector is a major investment in tourism infrastructure that allows visitors to easily access the attractions that Queensland is famous for. In a move to further support the sector, the state government has recently established a dedicated infrastructure fund.
Supporting tourism infrastructure
The Queensland Tourism Infrastructure Fund (QTIF) is designed to match the investments other organisations make into the state’s built environment. Applicants can receive between $100,000 and $1 million to go towards projects across the state that will support the tourism sector.
Among the suggested investments that this funding could go towards are:
- Cultural institutions
- Tourism attractions and city/town precincts
- Mixed-use projects
- Convention, exhibition and event facilities
- Sporting and entertainment centres
The funded developments will also have to meet certain dedicated timelines in order to qualify for this funding, according to the Minister for Tourism Kate Jones.
“New infrastructure will help to attract more visitors and increase tourism expenditure with flow-on economic benefits along the tourism supply chain,” said Ms Jones.
“The QTIF program will match dollar-for-dollar funding for eligible projects that will be completed by 30 June 2017.”
While this funding will provide an important boost to apprenticeship opportunities, it isn’t the only tourism opportunity that has recently seen an increase in funding.
Further funding for tourist attractions
As well as this increase in spending on infrastructure, the state government has also released details of a further $2.1 million put into the state’s tourism sector, providing further investment in major attractions across the state.
This funding is part of a different investment, coming from the federal level, with the government committing over $7 million over the next four years to different projects. The work is varied and will be carried out across the state, including upgrades to tourist facilities and centres, and installing technology like Wi-Fi connectivity at major locations.
Although a relatively small investment, these projects are expected to make a considerable difference to the experience tourists have of the state. Combined with the above funding, the future is certainly looking strong for the state’s tourism sector.
By Leanne Macnamara, Public Relations Coordinator
