Queensland Plan could make it ‘state of choice’ – QTIC

THE Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) believes Queensland will become the most desirable state in Australia in which to live, if The Queensland Plan can be successfully implemented.

QTIC chief executive Daniel Gschwind  said one of The Queensland Plan’s highly ambitious targets is to balance world-class management of natural assets with economic growth. He is one of 15 members of The Queensland Plan Ambassadors Council representing a range of Queensland sectors and regions to ensure the community-led vision remains the people’s plan. 

On behalf of QTIC and the tourism industry, Mr Gschwind will represent the tourism sector on the Ambassadors Council to work with stakeholders and government, oversee the plan’s implementation and encourage community participation.

“If Queensland can achieve the 30-year vision outlined within the plan, our state will certainly be an exceptional place in which to live, grow and prosper,” Mr Gschwind said.

The Queensland Plan Ambassadors Council is charged with the roles of advocacy, independent advice, leadership collaboration and review.

The ambassadors aim to help give the plan life by linking government, business, industry and community sectors, contributing expertise, driving community engagement and assisting  annual reporting.

Mr Gschwind encouraged all Queenslanders to embrace The Queensland Plan and he was “privileged to bring a tourism perspective to The Queensland Plan Ambassadors Council”.

“It’s up to Queensland’s communities to live up to the dreams and aspirations outlined in The Queensland Plan,” Mr Gschwind said.

 “QTIC is the peak industry body for tourism in Queensland and as Queensland’s voice of tourism, it’s our responsibility to focus on the issues that matter to Queensland’s tourism and hospitality industry.

“My position on the Ambassadors Council provides another opportunity for tourism to be recognised for its critical role in each of the foundation areas that form the basis of The Queensland Plan.

“Tourism touches practically every other industry and area of commerce throughout the state. Importantly, tourism contributes $21 billion in expenditure to the economy and employs 235,000 people.”

 

The Queensland Plan identifies key goals discussed by 80,000 participating Queenslanders and was released recently in Hervey Bay by Premier Campbell Newman.

Mr Gschwind said Queenslanders should remember The Queensland Plan is the people’s plan, not the government’s plan.

“It’s important to remember this is the state’s roadmap for growth and prosperity,” Mr Gschwind said.

“The Queensland Plan is an innovative concept. It’s the plan against which every government’s performance will be measured during the next 30 years.

“The foundation areas within the plan are based on feedback and ideas from Queenslanders. This is not just another government strategy.

“My role on the Ambassadors Council will be to work with industry to discover how tourism can be a major agent in achieving this balance,” he said.

“I’ll be calling on tourism businesses, Regional Tourism Organisations and the community to come together and evaluate how tourism can help communities outside the southeast to grow and prosper.

“QTIC – as the voice of Queensland’s tourism industry – will encourage participation from Regional Tourism Organisations and our members to support all aspects of regional and rural tourism development.

“Queensland’s regions are diverse and far-reaching, yet the role of statewide community collaboration will be critical for The Queensland Plan to be realised.”

The Queensland Plan presents many challenges to government with targets such as doubling the population of regions outside South East Queensland while other goals would require new thinking by all levels of government, Mr Gschwind said.

QTIC is a private sector, membership-based organisation representing the interests of the tourism and hospitality industry across Queensland.

www.queenslandplan.qld.gov.au.

www.qtic.com.au

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