Selling the Gympie Region at the Caravan & Camping Show
Posted on June 16th, 2010 by Simon Birks
For the first time ever, thanks to the extra funding from council, Gympie Cooloola Tourism (GCT) had a dynamic presence at the Caravan & Camping Show at the RNA Showgrounds in Brisbane from Wednesday June 9 until Tuesday June 16. We spent the seven days meeting many people from all walks of life who were interested in visiting the Gympie region. Gympie Cooloola Tourism staff and volunteers offered the public a selection of regional maps and our holiday magazine. Information about the region's national parks was also available, along with our caravan and camping members' brochures.
With fresh new artwork printed by Gympie's Starclub Copy Centre, Gympie Cooloola Tourism's new eight metre wide display featured a 3 metre wide scenic backdrop, a set of pull-up banners promoting the city, country, coast and our amazing natural attractions along with a branded counter. A television played YouTube footage, television advertisments and slideshows of the region.
There was a lot of positive feed back about the eye catching display and GCT's publications, from the public and other stand holders. It is great to hear favourable comments about our efforts. We have worked very hard over the past year to create a strong brand and this opportunity to reach out and promote our fabulous region to the Brisbane market, was an extremely rewarding experience.
GCT's next public promotion will be at the Careers Expo in Gympie during July, followed by a ten day promotion of the region at the Brisbane Ekka in August. For more information email Simon@cooloola.org.au or contact Simon on 07 5482 5444.
Introducing Our New Visitor Information Centre Co-ordinator
Posted on May 27, 2010 by Anna Browning
Hi everyone, my name is Anna Browning and I am proud to say I have recently been appointed as the Visitor Information Centre (VIC) Co-ordinator. I have a strong training and management background, hold a Certificate in Tourism and have also had some Industry experience.
I am so excited to be part of the Gympie Cooloola Tourism (GCT) Team. Being able to assist and support the Staff and Volunteers of the VIC’s to promote this beautiful area has already become both rewarding and satisfying. Speaking with Volunteers about ‘why’ they enjoy meeting new people and talking about the place they call home is interesting and definitely inspiring.
Over the next few weeks, I plan to meet all of the Volunteers that currently man our VIC’s and attempt to increase our Volunteer numbers. If either you or someone you know would like to volunteer with the Gympie Information Centres, please contact us – we would love to speak with you!
Call for photographers to submit photos for our next Holiday Guide
Posted on May 21, 2010 by Simon Birks
The Gympie Regional Holiday Guide is our major tourism publication, which promotes our beautiful area to the world! Printed in July, 50,000 copies of our glossy holiday guide are distributed to all visitor information centres in Queensland, local businesses, Brisbane’s airports and various locations worldwide. This year we hope to make our best holiday guide ever.
Last year’s holiday guide featured over fifty images of the region ranging from dolphin feeding in Tin Can Bay and four wheel driving at Rainbow Beach to horse riding in Mary Valley and pumpkin rolling in Goomeri. This year Gympie Cooloola Tourism is, for the first time ever asking the community to get involved in promoting our fabulous region.
We are inviting members of the community to submit their digital photographs of the Gympie region for our annual travel magazine which will be launched at the Brisbane Ekka in August. If you have a fantastic photo of Rainbow Beach, Tin Can Bay, Mary Valley, Gympie, Kilkivan or Goomeri, we would like to consider it for publication in the holiday guide. We will pay twenty-five to fifty dollars for each photo that is printed, depending upon its size.
For more information or to advertise in the holiday guide please Email Simon or call (07) 5482 5444 during office hours.
Official Opening of Cooloola's Great Walk
Posted on March 31, 2010 by Amanda LePeilbet
I was lucky enough to attend the launch of Cooloola’s Great Walk at Rainbow Beach on Saturday. The 102km world class walk was officially opened by the Climate Change and Sustainability Minister Kate Jones. With more than 100 people attending, there is no doubt that there is significant interest in this unique walk, the ninth in a series of ten State Government-funded Great Walks throughout Queensland.
The five day walk takes in some very diverse ecosystems through Cooloola Section of the Great Sandy National Park, from sub tropical rainforests to Mangroves and tidal saltmarshes. What many people don’t know is that Cooloola is the world’s largest coastal sand mass ... sounds familiar?? Yes like Fraser Island, the world’s largest sand island, Cooloola has very similar ecology and natural attractions to the world renowned Fraser. Like Fraser Cooloola has some of the world’s tallest Rainforests growing on sand, and a number of pristine perched lakes. In fact Cooloola is said to have higher biodiversity than Fraser.
Although relatively unknown in comparison to its famous neighbour Cooloola has it all and then some when it comes to natural eco wonders. With the launch of the Cooloola Great Walk it is sure to attract hiking and nature enthusiasts from around the globe and after an epic five day journey we imagine the hikers will take a few days to recuperate at the end of their journey at wonderful Rainbow Beach. There is no question in my mind that the Great Walk is a great win for Cooloola Coast tourism.
New Promotional Brochure Launched in Gympie
Posted on March 5, 2010 by Simon Birks
What a great night we had with our members and advertisers at Rosco's Sports Bar in Gympie. Gympie Cooloola Tourism is proud to release to the public our new Gympie Street and Business Directory for 2010.
With a modern new design and updated street map to include Gympie's newest estates, this will be Gympie's main marketing brochure at all information centres across Queensland. It will also be handed out for FREE from local real estate agents, businesses and petrol stations.
The directory’s eye-catching cover features local Gympie icons Roger Harmon and Gail Godwin dressed in period costume against the stunning backdrop of Memorial Park’s historic rotunda. It was great that Roger and Gail could be at our launch party in full dress. The theme for this year’s brochure - history comes alive, promotes the interactive historical attractions that Gympie has to offer its visitors.
Gympie’s promotional brochure is the first in a series of seven publications which will be produced by GCT during 2010 to promote the region. Copies of the map can be posted by request on 1800 444 222 or Send an email.
"G10" Unify Gympie Accommodation and Attractions
Posted on February 26, 2010 by Amanda LePeilbet
Gympie Cooloola Tourism is proud to see the formation of a new group in Gympie called “G10” made up of Gympie accommodation and tour businesses. We are very keen to work closely with this new industry group and commend the Gympie businesses involved for their commitment to furthering the tourism industry
in our area.
Derek Connelly from the Great Eastern Motor Inn says, “the intention of the G10 is to provide an important communication line between managers, tour operators, Gympie Cooloola Tourism and in general building relationships within the industry.” The group will aim to work together to gain respect from industry leaders and local council, with the goal of generating funds for future sales and marketing agendas. Derek mentioned “it’s a great way raise the standard of accommodation in Gympie to make it more efficient, profitable, comfortable and a great place to stay.”
This shows wonderful initiative from the Gympie accommodation sector and proves that even though competition within an industry is healthy, we can still work together for the greater good of the region. Gympie Cooloola Tourism will always support the growth and promotion of our members and we encourage more dialogue within the tourism industry so that we can all benefit.
More Funds from Council for Promotional Campaigns
Posted on February 12, 2010 by Amanda Le Peilbet
Gympie Cooloola Tourism’s (GCT) recent request for funding from the Gympie Regional Council’s regional tourism budget has been approved. GCT has identified several projects that, for a minimal outlay, would significantly lift our region’s profile within key target markets.
Part of the funding will be used for a TV advertising campaign on the new digital channel 7 Two. The campaign will run intermittently through February, March and April, and will cover seven regions along the coast from Cairns down to Toowoomba. We are also in negotiations to advertise on 7 Two in Brisbane,
our biggest visitor market. The 15 second advert, which Simon our multi talented Communications Officer has produced in-house, will encourage viewers to visit our website to learn more about our beautiful region. Click here to view the new 15sec TV advert
Consumer shows, like the Ekka, have proven to be a cost effective way to reach out to the market. The ability to communicate one on one with thousands of prospective visitors is an ideal marketing opportunity, so as part of the new funding we are booking a stand at the Brisbane Caravan and Camping Show, being held mid June.
Local Festival Launches & Media Events
Posted on February 12, 2010 by Jasmine Birks
It was with great delight that I have had the recent opportunity to attend launches for two of Gympie’s major festivals. Last night I joined Gympie Cooloola Tourism’s GM Amanda LePeilbet along with a huge crowd of supporters from the community at the program launch for next month’s Heart of Gold International Film Festival.
The festival has been running for several years now and is going from strength to strength, with this year’s program promising not to disappoint. Over a 171 short films and features from 21 countries will be screened and with ticket prices starting at just $8 this is a great opportunity for visitors and locals to view some brilliant cinematic works.
At the media launch of the Australasian Commedia dell’Arte Festival in December we were treated to an unscripted performance “inside the mask”, with hilarious results. The audience was in stitches!! The first of its kind in Australia, the festival will put the world spotlight on our region again in May, featuring workshops and a special World Premier performance by internationally renowned Italian Commedia artist and teacher Antonio Fava. Gympie Cooloola Tourism has come on board as a sponsor of the festival.
New YouTube Video Marketing for the Gympie Region
Posted on February 8, 2010 by Simon Birks
At Gympie Cooloola Tourism I have the rewarding job of producing a range of new and exciting marketing campaigns to promote the region in 2010. Recently, we redesigned our website to be at the forefront of tourism promotions in Queensland.
YouTube is the television station to the world, so with this in mind we linked each of our destination pages to YouTube and set about making videos about our unique region. All aspects of the filming and editing are done in house, resulting in a cost effective marketing strategy reaching both local and international markets.
A recent visit to Kilkivan and Goomeri provided us with new footage which is now online along with a documentary selling the wonders of Rainbow Beach to the world. Mary Valley, Gympie and Tin Can Bay videos will also be linked in the coming weeks.
Our promotional videos can also be viewed at our YouTube Page. We have also begun producing our own television commercials, thus stretching our advertising budget to allow for more air time. Keep an eye out for our Mary Valley commercial on channel Seven. It is the start of many more exciting campaigns promoting our extraordinary region to would-be visitors and new residents.