Billboards at Townsville, Tully and Cairns are just one of the weapons in Cook Shire Council’s expanding arsenal of tourism marketing strategies.
Expansion of tourism was a key opportunity earmarked in the Cook Shire 2011-2021 Community Plan, and 49 percent of respondents to the 2014 Cook Shire Business Survey believed increased tourism marketing and promotion would help their business grow.
Tourism was an important industry in Cook Shire, Mayor Peter Scott said, and Council was proactive in its marketing approach.
“While we are opportunistic and put in a good word for the region whenever we can, we are also actively researching and securing the best opportunities to market the region to a range of audiences.
“Our strategic marketing initiatives have boosted visitor numbers, which have a flow on effect not just to the tourism sector, but all our region’s businesses.”
As well as the billboards, which are flaunting new designs featuring the region’s stunning landscapes, big fish and historic streetscapes, Council advertises in a range of publications, including local newspapers, and farther afield in targeted tourism magazines.
And while retirees and motorhome travellers are a big market, the younger audience is also increasingly interacting with Council’s official social media accounts on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
A further boost to Council’s online presence will be the new-look corporate website, launched at the Cooktown and Cape York Business Conference.
