In the wake of a highly successful summer holiday season, the regional tourism community has gathered to celebrate the official opening of the new Visitor Information Centre in the East Bundaberg Tourism Precinct.
Mayor Jack Dempsey said it was a pleasure to join with Bundaberg Tourism to officially open the new, relocated centre on Thursday 31 January.
“It is a magnificent facility showcasing the best the Bundaberg Region has to offer,” Mayor Dempsey said.
“The evening provided a special opportunity to highlight the fantastic work of volunteers and congratulate the board members and staff of Bundaberg Tourism for their foresight and vision in identifying this new location.
“Visitors are often greeted by the hard-working volunteers and I can’t thank them enough for their time and commitment to promoting our region.
“Since opening in November we have already seen an increase in the number of visitors at this information centre which I believe reflects the increased accessibility of the new site.”
He said directional signage highlighting the new location would be installed in coming weeks.
Immediate increase in numbers
Between November and January the VIC has welcomed over 9900 tourists and locals through the doors of the modern facility – an increase of 10 per cent on the same period in 2017-18.
The facility is the newest VIC in the state. Its rich with local imagery from across the entire Bundaberg region, from Childers to Bargara, and from Woodgate Beach to Baffle Creek.
Bundaberg Tourism general manager Katherine Reid said: “The major reason for the relocation was the lack of access for large vehicles like caravans and motorhomes, which make up a very large proportion of transport for our regional visitors, and this is now available almost limitlessly at our new location.”
“We are so fortunate to have our VIC manned seven days a week by local volunteers and staff, whose rich knowledge of the region ensures we are providing a vital service to tourists and the local community.
“They offer a friendly welcome and insider knowledge on the best things to do across the entire region.
“We are also one of a handful of VIC’s statewide who offer booking facilities for tours and accommodation, and unique local souvenirs including some of our famous food products and locally made jewellery and swimwear.”
Bumper summer season
The tourism industry has experienced a massive summer, with accommodation and attractions experiencing unprecedented numbers across December and January, coinciding with the school holidays and the famous Bundaberg Turtle Season.
The bumper summer season is attributed to the hard work of the entire tourism industry over the past decades to market the region and its many attractions to target markets in Queensland and around the nation.
More than 18,000 people have visited the Mon Repos Turtle Encounter so far, with another two months of the season left in what is typically a busier period with the allure of hatchlings proving very strong.
How are people with no transport supposed to access this re-located VIC?
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