Last year the dealership lent the tourist centre a new Toyota Kluger. It would be used to advertise the north west as a tourist destination. Outback at Isa would borrow it for a year and if the dealership was pleased with the results it would agree to lend another Toyota for another year. 

For the next year Outback at Isa will borrow a Toyota Fortuner. Its 4WD capacity allows the tourist centre’s staff greater accessibility in the region. Bell & Moir’s principal Lee Pulman said he was happy to support the tourist centre.

Outback at Isa’s tourism manager Kylie Rixon said the vehicle was considered Outback at Isa’s mobile visitor information centre. 

“This year we are going to go out to the free camps outside of town in the vehicle with the brochures in the back, and take the visitor information centre to them, for those hardcore free campers that don’t normally have anything to do with the town,” Ms Rixon said. 

Mr Pulman said that tourism numbers recorded by Outback at Isa had grown in the last year. So had the attendance during the rodeo. This was of benefit to local businesses including his. 

“I do (see value), especially on the servicing and parts side, because people travel and get their cars serviced” Mr Pulman said. “Everyone that comes to Mount Isa for rodeo or to spend a couple of days here spends money at the food stalls. 

“A lot of them caravan parks, a lot of them accommodation. They are spending money locally. It is hard to put a figure on it but a lot of businesses are still struggling. 

“Any little bit of help they can get is a help.” 

Outback at Isa staff had worked hard in promoting Mount Isa as a tourist destination, he said. They had clocked 20,000 kilometres travelling across Queensland in the first Toyota they used, he said.