Council’s new Visitor Experience Coordinator will support growth of Goondiwindi Region’s visitor economy

A new role at Goondiwindi Regional Council will support the growth of the local visitor economy and work to improve the experience of visitors in the region.

Council has appointed Liesl Richards to the new role of Visitor Experience Coordinator for the Goondiwindi Region. The role will oversee the management of Council’s Visitor Information Centres (VICs) to ensure strategic direction and the delivery of quality, accurate customer service for visitors.

Ms Richards will work on a number of priority tourism projects identified by Council, as well as developing Council’s working partnerships with various local businesses, community groups and external agencies. She said she looked forward to being part of the Goondiwindi Region’s growing reputation as a quality visitor destination.

“I think our region has such an opportunity to build on its reputation as a really thriving and innovative part of regional Queensland,” Ms Richards said. “There’s so much on offer and I’m really looking forward to working with our volunteers, Council colleagues and other community stakeholders to showcase those elements to visitors.”

The new role complements several significant recent investments in the Goondiwindi Region’s visitor economy by Council, including the award-winning Yelarbon silo artwork and the ongoing ‘#VisitGoondiwindiRegion’ campaign.

Other recent Council investments include the commission of professional images for local businesses to use in their marketing material, a new Goondiwindi Region public art trail brochure, and an upcoming visitor guide that will include attractions and accommodation options across the region, along with region-wide itineraries.

Mayor of the Goondiwindi Region the Honourable Cr Lawrence Springborg AM said collaboration between stakeholders was key to attracting visitors and encouraging them to spend more within the region.

“A big part of Council’s role in developing the region’s visitor economy is to ensure our local VICs are delivering quality, consistent information to visitors and best promoting the activities and experiences available locally,” Cr Springborg said. “Of course, Council can’t promote those offerings without strong working partnerships with our local tourism operators and related businesses – so we rely on them to keep offering quality experiences and to really build on our reputation as ‘Regional Australia at its Best’.”

Estimates suggest more than 216,000 visitors came to the Goondiwindi Region in 2018-19, worth around $66.8 million to the local economy. Council launched its ‘#VisitGoondiwindiRegion’ campaign on both Facebook and Instagram in July last year, which now has a combined total of nearly 17,000 followers based mainly in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and elsewhere in southeast Queensland.

“This new appointment comes at a particularly favourable time due to the big rise in domestic tourism predicted as a result of COVID-19,” the Mayor said. “However, it’s worth pointing out that Council has been very deliberate in focusing on ‘visitors’ as well as ‘tourists’ – figures show we have a large number of other kinds of visitors to the Goondiwindi Region as well as your more typical tourists. They’re often visiting for business, to attend one of our many popular events or to see family and friends.

“Whatever the reason for their visit, the key is to encourage more visitor dollars being spent at local businesses.”