Attracting more grey nomads to the Sunshine State is one of the key aims of the newly released Queensland Drive Tourism Strategy.
The government report says that the most effective way to do this is to fix the state’s roads, and improve its rest areas, camping facilities and road signs. Apparently the overarching aim is to make Queensland the nation’s number one drive tourism destination by 2020 – but there’s an awful lot of work to be done first.
According to a report in the Brisbane Times, there are nearly 2,000 kilometres of state-controlled roads still being repaired after a string of natural disasters in 2011. There is also and uncertainty around a major $1 billion 10-year deal between the state and federal governments to repair the much-maligned Bruce Highway.
In unveiling the new drive tourism strategy, the Tourism Minister, Jann Stuckey, said that – with the Australian Bureau of Statistics predicting the over-55 drive market could more than double by 2050 – grey nomads presented “a tremendous opportunity for Queensland”.
“Our regional cities and towns rely heavily on visitation to support their local businesses and this strategy will stimulate the drive tourism market by encouraging visitors to take a driving holiday,” Ms Stuckey said. “We want drive tourists to feel safe and comfortable while exploring our great state, and the strategy addresses real issues such as road infrastructure, accommodation options, and user-friendly information.”
As in all states, domestic tourism in Queensland has been hit hard by the high Aussie dollar that has encouraged travellers to hit the airport rather than the highways and byways of Australia.
According to the Brisbane Times, other highlights of the new Queensland Drive Tourism Strategy include:
Is it important that the Queensland government is at least attempting to address the core issues that might frighten grey nomads away from the Sunshine State? Are there any other issues they should be looking at? Does the state of Queensland’s roads frighten you off visiting? Comment below.
The Queensland Gov are taking notice of the CRVA and with the Consumer and Competition legislation Thay have to go along with it and i thinkj the Queensland Gov will ignore all our cries low cost campining they want to increase by 2020 the revuenue to $30 Billion per year that is a lot of grey knomads pension
For Qld to do this….Pigs will fly first..I got a tip for those lacal councils …Take them threatening signs down at rest stops If a person needs to sleep so be it
Is Qld Government going to widen all highways? As a grey nomad and oversize pilot I am concerned at the dangers on the narrow, deteriorated major highways of Qld. These things need to be taken into account as part of the long term plan.