Interest from the international tourism market is being generated for Mount Isa, just a few weeks after two key local tourism operators participated in the Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE).
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Mount Isa Mines Rotary Rodeo Manager Natalie Flecker and Mount Isa Entertainment and Tourism Venues (MIETV) Business Manager Angi Matveyeff went to Sydney for ATE, Australia’s largest annual travel and tourism business to business event, which brings together Australian tourism businesses with tourism wholesalers and retailers from around the world.
Ms Flecker said it was the first time Mount Isa had actively promoted its own product internationally, under the wider Outback Queensland umbrella.
“Overseas travellers can now directly book Mount Isa holiday experiences for the first time because experiences like Outback at Isa and the Isa Rodeo were included in international travel brochures,” she said.
“This was made possible by Tourism and Events Queensland funding, and apart from attending ATE, a key initiative has been the inclusion of Mount Isa attractions in international brochures.”
Ms Flecker said it was exciting to work together with key local attractions such as Outback at Isa as international visitors wanted a destination to offer a variety of experiences.
“Tourism and Events Queensland elevated the rodeo to Major Events status late last year, which followed by winning the 2016 Qantas Australian Tourism Award,” she said.
“To be included in international travel brochures is another important milestone for the event.”
Ms Matveyeff said a number of international markets, particularly India, Europe, South America, China and Japan expressed interest in Mount Isa at ATE.
“We have amazing potential for international tourism by connecting the three World Heritage areas of the Great Barrier Reef, Daintree Rainforest and Riversleigh Fossil Fields together,” she said.
The 2017 Isa Rodeo will be held from August 11 to 13, with preparations already well underway, including the Rodeo Queen Quest.
The rodeo has raised more than $4 million for local community groups as diverse as the Royal Flying Doctors Service, the Police Citizens Youth Club (PCYC), North Queensland Rescue Helicopter Service, the Laura Johnson Home and BUSHkids community health organisation.
The Mount Isa Mines Rotary Rodeo made Queensland Major Event status last year and is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland and promoted as part of the It’s Live! in Queensland event calendar.
Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
