This week the Marketing team and I are in Sydney attending the Destination Australia conference, hosted by Tourism Australia. Themed 'The next chapter for sustainable growth', this event provides a crucial platform for industry leaders to discuss key focus areas such as aviation, distribution and AI, emerging sectors, marketing, accessibility and inclusion, and storytelling. As we aim to surpass pre-COVID levels of visitation and expenditure, it is essential to evolve the conversation around sustainable growth within our industry. Our participation underscores our commitment to staying ahead of industry developments and showcasing Southern Queensland Country's unique offerings to a global audience. We look forward to the insights and networking opportunities this conference will provide as we continue to drive tourism growth in our region.

I am pleased to share some exciting updates and developments, reflecting our ongoing commitment to enhancing trade readiness and seizing opportunities in the tourism sector.

Trade readiness and opportunity have always been integral components of our work here at Southern Queensland Country Tourism. While these efforts may sometimes go unnoticed, they play a crucial role in shaping our inbound international market. Recently, we have been collaborating with partners in Singapore to cultivate opportunities in this market, and I'm thrilled to announce a significant milestone in this endeavour.

We have successfully launched a new 8-day Gold Coast and Southern Queensland Country drive tour in the Singapore market. This initiative represents a step forward, made possible through our close partnerships within the market. This collaboration underscores our collective efforts to foster tourism trade relationships and showcase the unique offerings of our region to international visitors.

As your regional tourism organisation, we are dedicated to fostering growth and providing opportunities for learning within our community. Our goal is to support local businesses in developing the skills and readiness necessary to become integral parts of bookable itineraries with agents around the world. Through bookable opportunities like the new 8-day Gold Coast and Southern Queensland Country drive tour in the Singapore market, we are actively working to empower our partners, ensuring sustainable growth and long-term success.

Looking ahead, we have an exciting event on the horizon. Later this year, alongside the Toowoomba Regional Council we will be supporting the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers display at Gardens by the Bay, in Singapore. This display, set to take place from September 2024, expects to captivate an estimated 500,000 to 700,000 visitors. The projected impact of this project is staggering, with an expected additional 64,000 visitors to our region over the following three years and a substantial contribution of an estimated $53 million to the regional economy. These figures underscore the significant role of tourism in driving economic growth and prosperity.

I would also like to take this opportunity to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the Toowoomba Regional Council events team, led by Kate Scott and supported by James O'Shea, on their outstanding work with The Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers. Their dedication and creativity have positioned this event as a contender for the 'Major Festivals and Events' category at the upcoming Australian Tourism Awards on Friday, March 15. Building on the success of last year's Carnival, I have no doubt that this year's 75th-anniversary celebration will exceed all expectations and leave an indelible mark on our tourism landscape.

I want to express my gratitude to each member of our community for their ongoing dedication and commitment to advancing tourism in Southern Queensland Country. Together, we will continue to harness opportunities, build meaningful partnerships, and showcase the beauty and diversity of our region to the world.