The Truth About Tourism in Hervey Bay
For quite some time now we’ve been hearing from Council and the local tourism board that tourism in Hervey Bay and the Fraser Coast has never been better.
The general manager of the Fraser Coast South Burnett Regional Tourism Board would have you believe that tourism to the region continues to grow. Councillor Noia claims that the loss of Jetsar has had no significant impact on tourism to the region.
That’s been at complete odds with what those working at the frontline of tourism have been saying and now it looks like those optimistic reports were just so much hot air.
It makes you wonder what the Council and the Board have been basing their figurees on when the latest report from Tourism Queensland shows quite clearly that tourism to the Fraser Coast Region for the year ended March 2010 is well down.
Domestic visitors are down by 12% … holiday visitors are down by 5% … intrastate visitors are down by 9% and interstate visitors are down by a whopping 28%.
So perhaps the Council and the Fraser Coast South Burnett Regional Tourism Board might care to explain why their claims of increased tourism to the region are not supported by the facts.
June 21st, 2010 at 12:53 pm
The answer to the questions posted above is simple; these people lie!!
A more important question, is, why is half a million dollars of ratepayer money given to promote private enterprise?
What is wrong with the Chamber of Commerce and the cities busunesses paying for their own promotion?
Is this how we do business in the Nanny state?
July 11th, 2010 at 3:17 pm
I know of a way to bring hundreds, if not thousands of over seas tourists here to Hervey Bay which would create jobs and bring in millions of dollars. But as this is a nanny state run by nannies, it would never happen.
July 16th, 2010 at 8:26 am
Hi, I’m writing to get some sort of bearings of the situation of real tourism industry situation in Hervey Bay as has the Tourism Board really talked up the potention of the industry and what about new business survival whats the percentage there.We are interested in starting a Bed and Breakfast, we are doing our homework at the moment in the respect of establishing from ground up and injecting half a million of our money into the area. I have researched the B & B industry and realised that there isn’t that many at the Bay.
Am I heading into stormy waters would the business I prepose be a big (lemon) risk regarding the current economic climate we have been battered about for the past 2 years at the Gold Coast business wise and don’t want to jump from the frypan into the fire I would be interested on knowing your thoughts.(We were thinking of making a start the end of the year)
Thanks Debbie.
July 16th, 2010 at 8:47 am
Hi Debbie
I would suggest that the person you need to talk to is Kevin from La Mer. He’ll be able to give you a clearer picture of what’s happening here.
You’ll find his phone number on the La Mer website at http://www.lamer.com.au/
Stuart
July 18th, 2010 at 9:10 pm
If you want to start a B & B here in Hervey Bay, just rember. This place is like a ghost town for just over half the year till the whales come. Then it will pick up a bit. Also, you have to deal with the council here and they are full of it, so it wont be easy to get anything done.
Good luck.
September 9th, 2011 at 5:31 pm
My apologies for such a terribly overdue response,
but if you are still interested in Hervey Bay’s tourism, Peter, I am curious as to what your idea or strategy was to attract overseas tourists to the Bay.
As I found myself pondering how Hervey Bay could win back some tourists and flourish again.