Staff delivering face-to-face engagement with visitors at regional tourism attractions are undertaking familiarisation tours to fully equip them with the knowledge to become tourism ambassadors.
This simple exercise is being built into local tourism operations with staff across the region gaining exposure and operational insight into the many local visitor attractions.
Council’s Economic Development portfolio spokesman Cr Greg Barnes said a tour was planned for Childers next Tuesday, August 26 where front of house staff associated with tourism operations would be taken on a tour of local attractions.
“It may sound such a simple initiative, but often changes in staff and the opening of new attractions mean that not all tourist operators are aware of what their fellow operators are doing or offering.
“A similar event was undertaken recently with visits to Bundaberg attractions. The outcome is that local community and operator knowledge is enhanced making them better informed tourist ambassadors,” Cr Barnes said.
“This familiarisation process, funded in part by Bundaberg Region Rising, is part of the rollout of the 2014-2020 Bundaberg North Burnett Destination Tourism Plan which sets a firm direction for the development of the region as a visitor destination.
“The plan binds Council and Bundaberg North Burnett Tourism to agreed strategies that will drive local tourism marketing towards it goal of doubling visitor numbers by 2020.”
Cr Barnes said the interaction achieved on the familiarisation tours assisted staff from various operations to better understand the value of each others’ attractions.
“The message we are relaying to the community is that we all need to be ambassadors for our region and its attractions. We all have a stake in the success of tourism and the economic opportunities it presents.”
ENDS