The Mount Isa Tourism Development Strategy 2020-2025 was launched last and while the document is full of the usual management jargon that often makes these kinds of documents unreadable to the general public, does have some interesting things to say about tourism in our region.

Outback Queensland still takes a small segment of the overall Queensland tourism market.

Internationally 2.74 million visitors came to the state in the 12 months to March 2019 while only 28,000 came to the Outback, though that figure is up 12.2% on the past three years.

Domestically there were 24.6 million visitors to Queensland in the same timeframe with one million coming to the Outback, for a growth of 7.5% over three years.

The impact of coronavirus is still unfolding but these figures show there is much growth to be had both on Australian and international visitors to uncover the wonders of the Outback.

An estimated 11,000 international visitors came to Mount Isa in 2017 staying on average 10 days, spending $4 million locally.

An estimated 134,000 domestic visitors came to the city that year staying three days and spending $98 million.

With 353,000 visitors to the wider North West region, it appears most are not making it to Mount Isa or are not stopping a night here.

The strategy identifies these visitors as where the opportunities lie if we present them "experiences and a compelling brand with strong visitor appeal".

It says assets like Lake Moondarra are largely enjoyed by locals and their visitors and camping, fishing and water are most restricted to local clubs and 'those in the know".

Obviously the quietness is a large part of the appeal of these places but the strategy says we need to find the right balance between local and visitor enjoyment and long-term environmental protection.

The vision will be to offer every visitor the chance to experience Mount Isa "through the eyes of a local".

Hence the new slogans to "come to the other side of Queensland" and "meet Mount Isa".