Despite World Tourism Day looking a bit different in 2020 as the industry continues to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, Sunshine Coast businesses are still continuing to shine.
The Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) marked the occasion with a celebration of the resilience of the industry and drew attention to some of the many tourism operators who have adapted and innovated during this dramatic disruption.
QTIC Chief Executive, Daniel Gschwind said, “Our industry is not just important to the economy but also to of the life of communities and their wellbeing.“
“Our cultural life, our events, our heritage and even our guardianship of our natural wonders is supported by tourism activity. And most of all, it is the lives and livelihood of the hundreds of thousands of workers in our industry that are at stake.“
Tourism Minister Kate Jones said tourism was a major focus of the Palaszczuk Government’s economic recovery strategy.
“Tourism is absolutely vital to Queensland’s economy. I’ve seen first-hand how tourism operators have struggled throughout this pandemic,” she said.
“World Tourism Day is usually a time for celebration.“
The QTIC World Tourism Day Breakfast had 150 people in attendance to hear from industry experts and stories about some of the many tourism operators who have adapted their business during this pandemic.
One of the businesses highlighted from the Sunshine Coast was Creative Tours and Events who introduced a new interactive food tours online – the ‘Meet the Maker at home’ virtual series.
Each experience delivered local produce to your door and was followed by an exclusive online session. These intimate virtual experiences allowed for a unique masterclass highlighting the local produce and producers of the region.
Owner of Creative Tours and Events Josh Donohoe said, “Our tour business closed for three months, as did the venues we visit. We decided to collaborate with local farmers, producers, brewers, and
distillers to create an online Meet the Maker at home experience.“
“Already having a strong network with local producers allowed us to collaborate on this idea fairly quickly. With no work whatsoever it was more down to idle hands and busy minds that lead to this series of events.
“We plan to continue offering these events locally, and also further afield.“
