Tourism Recovery Program
Program purpose
The 2019 bushfire season in Queensland was catastrophic. At the height of the season, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) was dealing with more than 90 bushfires at one time.
Southern Queensland Bushfires and the Stradbroke Bushfires both occurred in September, and the Eastern Queensland Bushfires burnt throughout November and December. Additionally, fires in other parts of the state resulted in the merging of the bushfire events into one disaster event - Queensland Bushfires, September - December 2019. After these bushfires, a Community Recovery Package was made available and funded by the Commonwealth and State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements under Category C. The package included the Tourism Recovery Program (the Program).
The purpose of the Tourism Recovery Program is to support the long‐term recovery of areas of the state with local economies that rely heavily on tourism (including vulnerable tourism operators) impacted by the Queensland bushfires.
Program status
The Program concluded in June 2022.
Administering agency
The former Department of Innovation and Tourism Industry Development (DITID), now Department of Tourism, Innovation and Sport (DTIS) and the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training (DESBT) led implementation of the Program with administrative support from the Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA).
Outcomes achieved:
Overarching program activity |
Recovery outcome |
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Tourism Recovery Marketing Program |
Boosting immediate visits to the region through a range of marketing initiatives including a joint (Tourism and Events Queensland, Brisbane marketing campaign and the Visit Sunshine Coast and Southern Queensland Country Tourism) drive.
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Wine Tourism Marketing Program |
Ensuring long term sustainability of the wine tourism industry through support for wine related tourism businesses such as wineries and cellar doors operating within regions impacted by the Bushfires |
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Go Local campaign |
The Go Local Marketing Campaign aimed to increase revenue and support for the local economy (across Scenic Rim, Southern Downs, Noosa and Sunshine Coast regions), which will enure long‐term sustainability of the local community. Key campaign activities included:
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Tourism Recovery grants |
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More information
A copy of the full evaluation report is available on the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience (AIDR) website.
(QRA Reference CM DOC/22/71008)