Thinking outside the box for Tourism

Goondiwindi Regional Council hosted a tourism network meeting in Inglewood and Texas last month after inviting local tourism operators and not-for-profit organisations.  The objective was to encourage local businesses to promote each other, ultimately resulting in the growth of the local tourism sector.

The meeting is the third of its kind in the Inglewood area and the second in Texas with a focus on strategies to encourage improved collaboration, share training and funding opportunities to bring more visitors to the region.

Each meeting is held at a different local venue to allow business operators to experience what the region has to offer.  The most recent meetings were held at the historically significant Inglewood Heritage Centre and Australian Tobacco Museum and the Texas Heritage Centre and Tobacco Museum respectively.   Previously, guests to the tourism network meetings have experienced the produce at Coolmunda Organic Olives and the serenity of Leven K Lavender farm, and the comfort of the Stockman Hotel in Texas.

Mayor of Goondiwindi Regional Council the Honourable Cr Lawrence Springborg AM, who also holds the portfolio for Economic Development, Tourism and Events, said there is significant potential for tourism operators to promote each other when visitors and tour groups express an interest in visiting the region. 

“You’d be surprised the number of locals that haven’t visited the local museum or been to an attraction like the Leven K Lavender farm,” Cr Springborg said. 

“These network meetings provide a unique opportunity for our local tourism organisations to visit each other and ask a range of questions that may not come up in general conversation, including the current opening hours, key features and attendance figures.  It is so much easier to promote an attraction in the region when you’ve seen it firsthand.

“Networking with other businesses helps to give an authentic cross-promotion of local businesses and generate positive economic growth in the region,” he said.

The Covid-19 pandemic disrupted the regularity of the regional network meetings, but now all businesses are open and the aim is to invite everyone together two or three times per year.