Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
Tim Booth, CEO Tourism Whitsundays. Photo supplied
Contributed with thanks by Tourism Whitsundays
We are hosting our first ever Tourism Day, bringing together guest speakers from across the country to discuss key topics, tends and opportunities for the tourism industry.
Robbie Dalton from Localis will discuss the latest data and travel trends across the region, including the impact of events, emerging visitor demographics and where we are seeing growth. George Pappas from Gamm DX will discuss the changes to visitor search behaviour due to AI, including how these changes are impacting the tourism industry, and the opportunities available for businesses to maximise their digital presence.
Attendees will also hear from the CEO and Director of Events at Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ), who will provide insights into the broader Queensland tourism landscape, and where we can maximise opportunities for The Whitsundays as we look towards 2032 and beyond to 2045. We will also welcome the TEQ Board to the region at the beginning of that week, providing an important opportunity for the industry to discuss critical issues facing the region, and the opportunities ahead for The Whitsundays in the coming years.
Tourism Day will be followed by our annual Tourism Awards, with over 80 local businesses up for an award this year. It’s a great opportunity to come together and celebrate all the achievements of our tourism industry over the past year.
In preparation for the upcoming Cruise Ship season, we are also holding a cruise ship workshop for members currently working with Shorex. More than 90 Cruise Ships are anticipated to visit the region over the next 12 months, with November marking the beginning of our busy season.
With our 2025/26 Annual Report now completed, I also want to congratulate the team on an incredible year of achievements. Most notably, in a year of significant changes across the digital landscape, we recorded a 71% increase in total web traffic, reaching 871k total visitors, resulting in a big increase in total leads directed to our members. Airlie Beach has also been awarded Australia’s Top Tourism Town – Small town category, recognising the strength of our destination and the outstanding experiences our region offers.
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