Hundreds of industry professionals and Visitor Information Centre volunteers have converged for a huge networking event designed to drive tourism in the region.
Representatives from more than 80 businesses joined ambassadors from information centres at the Sunshine Coast Big Day Out for Tourism, held at Venue 114 in Bokarina on Tuesday.
Visit Sunshine Coast head of industry and trade development Andrew Fairbairn said the event, dubbed ScouT23, was the ultimate opportunity for those in the business to meet in person to showcase and promote attractions, tours, events, restaurants and experiences.
“The key objective of this event is for operators to connect and network with new contacts, re-establish or build on existing contacts and, most importantly, improve perceptions and awareness of their product,” he said.
“I am thrilled by the turnout and the number of meaningful connections being made.”
Now in its fifth year, ScouT23 was themed to celebrate Australia’s newest airline Bonza setting up its head office on the Sunshine Coast, with attendees checking in on arrival and flights being given away on the day.
“With all the flights being announced from Bonza, Scout was a great opportunity to work and connect with the airline and the airport,” Mr Fairbairn said.
“ScouT23 showcased a range of craft beers as part of the networking event.
“We also had 20 Visitor Information Centres represented, from Brisbane airport all the way up to Gympie, which has been the largest turnout in the event’s history.”
The region’s largest tourism exchange of the year also included an Indigenous Hub and an Accessibility Hub as part of the 2023 Year of Accessible Tourism.
In the Accessibility Hub, Cerge app co-founder Chris Kerrisk created what he believed was a world-first at an event – real-time accessibility information.
“We have uploaded photos here today from the front entry right through to the main exhibit hall, meeting rooms and bathrooms to show accessibility for people whether they’re in a wheelchair, have a visual or hearing impairment or sensory needs,” he said.
“Usually this information can take weeks or months to be made available. Today, it’s taken us about an hour to have all this information available online and we’ll be updating it throughout the day as things change so people can go online and see whether the event suits their needs.
“Cerge is all about providing information to your customers so they can make decisions ahead of time.”
Visit Sunshine Coast CEO Matt Stoeckel said the Sunshine Coast was known as being sunny by name and by nature, but it was also important to be seen as an accessible destination.
“Figures show 4.4 million Australians have a disability and at least 44 per cent travel for pleasure creating a market worth up to $8 billion annually,” Mr Stoeckel said.
“Creating more accessible accommodation, venues and experiences in the region to better cater to people of all abilities is crucial as we count down to the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2032.
“Visit Sunshine Coast is a conduit for connecting industry with government initiatives and, through events such as ScouT23, we are providing valuable relationship building and networking opportunities.”
