ONE of Queensland’s most experienced tourism experts has stressed that a Logan tourism campaign should start with its people, ensuring pride in a region council is determined to sell.
Queensland Tourism Industry Council chief executive Daniel Gschwind said it was imperative for Logan to create a “spirit of aspiration, self-belief, pride and a collective vision”.
Mr Gschwind said local government boundaries weren’t important to tourism.
The prouder the people, the more others would want to come and experience the immense attractions of the area.
Mr Gschwind’s comments came last week, soon after a Logan City Council announcement that the city would be launching a new tourism brand – Explore Logan.
An “experience different” tagline would ask visitors to appreciate Logan’s culinary experiences, and a passion for sport and adventure.
It would also focus on “hidden gems” like historical sites and one-of-a-kind markets.
While surrounding councils such as Scenic Rim, Ipswich and Redlands have long launched successful tourism pitches, Logan has been slow to see the benefits.
However, Mr Gschwind said there was plenty of time for the city to cash in on the Olympics – heavily in tune with the Olympic spirit was Logan’s diversity, “something to be proud of”.
Spirits of the Red Sand at Beenleigh recently won a national award for its work in the tourism space.
“There’s plenty to see, there’s great restaurants, a diverse community, and some natural features and infrastructure to be proud of,” Mr Gschwind said.
“Visitors know no boundaries when it comes to attracting traffic to a region.”
He said money was best spent ensuring the people of the region were proud of where they lived, a trait which would resonate with potential visitors to the region.
“I would spend money on activating Logan businesses,” he said.
“When they are seeing themselves in the picture, they’ll get excited. And people should be thinking about what sort of environment they want their kids to grow up in. It’s all about pride, and there’s plenty to be proud of.”
The city’s leaders however, continue to look further afield.
Deputy Mayor Jon Raven urged visitors and day trippers in South East Queensland to look beyond Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
“Locals know that our city is full of hidden gems,” he said.
“We’ve got authentic and unique experiences for visitors, just waiting to be discovered.”
A council statement said the new tourism destination brand complements City of Logan’s plan to capitalise on the cuisines of its diverse communities.
A plan was developed two years ago and showcases venues like the the Global Food Markets at Logan Central.
Sport was also high on the agenda, in particular a world-class BMX track at Doug Larsen Park and mountain bike tracks at Cornubia and Daisy Hill.
A competition, hosted on visitlogan.com.au, yet branded “Explore Logan”, will offer “the ultimate Logan explorer pass valued at $2699”.
It includes a karting session for four people at Kingston Park Raceway, and a wakeboarding experience at Bayside Wakepark, Carbrook.
