Plan to have tourists fly south for winter
Tasmanian tourism authorities say the state is considered an exotic and entrancing prospect for many Queenslanders, with an advertising push launched to boost tourist numbers travelling from the far north to the far south.
The advertising blitz has been announced following a Jetstar decision to add an additional daily direct flight between Brisbane and Hobart. Tasmanian Premier Lara Giddings announced $1 million will be spent to target Queensland, continuing the recently successful Go Behind the Scenery campaign.
Ms Giddings says it’s all about filling the new Jetstar service: “Research shows that many Queenslanders are interested in coming to Tasmania but we need to convert that interest to bookings... filling those seats could inject an additional $150 million into the Tasmanian economy.”
Tasmania’s Minister for Tourism, Scott Bacon says: “Tourism Tasmania has done a lot of work to understand the Queensland market and we are confident this additional funding will yield tangible short-term results... Up until now the campaign has been focussed on core markets in Victoria and NSW but there is huge untapped potential in Brisbane and beyond, it is time to capitalise on that opportunity and stimulate economic activity, particularly in regional areas that rely heavily on tourism.”
There are many mysteries to Tasmania for the average Queenslander, many of whom have not experienced snowy climates before. A trip at this time of year would require leaving average temperatures in the mid-20s for a place whose temperature is normally in the single-figures.