New direction highlights importance of tourism in Mackay

Mackay Tourism Ltd (MTL) successfully launched its new strategy and business plan to members of the tourism industry, stakeholders and Mackay Regional Council Mayor Greg Williamson recently, highlighting the importance of tourism in the region.

The new focus for MTL will be around making The Mackay Region a ‘must-visit’ destination by showcasing memorable nature experiences to the world.

Information on future development workshops, marketing campaigns and visitor information services were also detailed during the launch.

Currently, The Mackay Region receives 862,000 domestic visitors, a number which has risen 8.6% in the last year, with overnight expenditure being $346.1 million, up 7.4%.

International visitation is also growing with 47,000 visitors from overseas staying in the region, an increase of 10.8%. Over 40% of these visitors are from Europe.

Mayor Greg Williamson congratulated the entire tourism industry on a consolidated effort to bring tourism back into the spotlight and was keen to see locals in the region echo the same message.

“Everyone in this community is in the tourism business, so I’m very keen to see our Mackay residents sharing and celebrating what we have here and showing visitors a great time when they arrive,” Cr. Williamson said.

MTL General Manager, Tas Webber, said The Mackay Region was on an exciting journey, with tourism being a key driver.

“The Mackay Region has always had amazing nature experiences, but now it’s about sharing what we have on offer to the rest of the world,” Mr Webber said.

“The future is certainly bright, with increases in both domestic and international visitor numbers, and extra support going towards Visitor Information Services, thanks to State and local government funding.”