All eyes were on The Star Brisbane, Queen’s Wharf yesterday for the DestinationQ forum which featured a stellar lineup of keynote speakers including four-time Olympic Gold medal Ariarne Titmus, Paralympian Paracanoeist Curtis McGrath and Swedish visionary futurist and founder of the avant-garde think tank, Thinique, Anders Sörman-Nilsson.

Newly elected Premier David Crisafulli also delivered a thoughtful opening address to the 1000 tourism professionals who gathered to discuss the future of Queensland’s billion-dollar tourism industry.

Premier Crisafulli and Environment and Tourism Minister Andrew Powell outlined their 20-year tourism plan, committing $5 million towards delivering the Whitsunday Skyway Project, as well investing in other adventure-based tourism ventures including a $4.9 million commitment to five walking trails in Palm Island, effectively building the first plank of tourism on the island.

The Government will also dedicate $10 million to deliver a research and training precinct for Seaworld Marine Wildlife Hospital and an additional $2 million at Currumbin Wildlife sanctuary going towards a research and training precinct, which will have an interactive visitor centre and drive the development of tourism experiences that showcase Queensland’s natural assets.

Queensland Tourism Industry Council Chief Executive Officer Brett Fraser said the forum was a monumental success that provided much needed direction for the future of Queensland tourism.

“For Queensland to remain a world-class destination, we must prioritise forums like DestinationQ which allows us to create a clear pathway and vision for the future of our state’s tourism industry,” Mr Fraser said.

“It was truly wonderful to see so many key government and industry leaders gather to discuss priorities for ensuring the tourism industry remains competitive. The conference was abuzz with interesting conversations and many lessons were to be learned from our various panellists.

“A main topic of conversation throughout the day was the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Only a short eight years away, now was the perfect time to be forward thinking as we prepare to have our state thrust under a global spotlight.

“There were also some terrific takeaways around the importance of sustainability and sustainable tourism. We have such beautiful ecosystems here in QLD from rainforests to deserts, hinterlands and sprawling beaches, it’s so critical for us to be protecting this environment so it can be enjoyed for generations to come.

“I’m thankful to all who were in attendance and feel that we have all left feeling energized and excited for what is to come for Queensland tourism over the next several years.”

Environment and Tourism Minister Andrew Powell said there was a real buzz around The Star at the boundless possibilities for tourism in Queensland in the lead up to Brisbane 2032 and beyond.

“We will shape a new 20-year vision for tourism in Queensland in partnership with the hundreds of tourism leaders and operators who were at Queens Wharf for DestinationQ,” said Mr Powell.

“We have a golden runway to 2032, and I hope we can embed a legacy tourism decade to get more people wanting to come to Queensland for an unforgettable holiday.

“A big part of that is going to be developing world-class eco-tourism experiences that strike the right balance between protecting the environment and showcasing our best natural assets to the world.

“We want to remove the red and green tape roadblocks preventing tourism projects from proceeding, and the industry feedback so far on that has been overwhelmingly positive.”

This year’s DestinationQ theme was ‘Future Focused’ and offered several panels with industry experts to discuss cyber security, marketing and branding, sustainability and the runway to the 2032 Brisbane Olympics and Paralympic Games.

DestinationQ Forum 2024 is proudly supported by the Queensland Tourism Industry Council, Queensland Government and Tourism and Events Queensland.

– ENDS –