The board aimed to attract families and “Sinks and Dinks” to the Isa while also retaining the market on grey nomads, which is currently the local tourism industry’s “bread and butter”. Sinks means single income with no kids while dinks means double income with no kids.  

“It’s not to say we’re turning away from grey nomads, it’s our core market,” said Mount Isa Tourism Board secretary Angi Matveyeff. “It’s our bread and butter but we want to extend other markets.” 

Chairman Gary Murray said these projects included establishing more bird watching at Lake Moondarra – which is home to unique birds. Once this culture was established it allowed opportunities to host bird festivals. 

The board also wanted to develop the connection between the Riversleigh laboratory and the dig site, and making connections with the Wet Tropics Management Authority, based in Cairns.