Tourism body strengthens council ties

Mayor Cr Andrew Martin.

Outback Queensland’s peak tourism body has moved to strengthen its partnerships with local councils by relocating its offices to Local Government House in Brisbane.

Outback Queensland Tourism Association (OQTA) Chair and Blackall-Tambo Mayor Cr Andrew Martin said the strategic move would allow the organisation to work even more collaboratively with its 19 partner councils.

“Outback Queensland’s footprint covers more than 930,000 square kilometres and we rely on our partnerships with councils to deliver and sustain a vibrant and resilient tourism sector,” Cr Martin said.

“We had a vision to shore up these key relationships by co-locating with the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) and were able to negotiate an excellent outcome with LGAQ CEO Alison Smith.

“The LGAQ has been supporting and connecting councils for more than 125 years, and we’re delighted to be partnering with an organisation that shares our commitment to Outback Queensland’s communities and recognises the vital contribution of tourism to regional economies.

“The OQTA firmly believes in a fully networked approach to marketing, advocacy, product development and experience delivery, and we look forward to working side by side with our partners to deliver the best outcomes for our region.”