- Tourism boss says Brisbane just an events city
- Call for more accommodation and attractions
- Visitor nights in Queensland have fallen
BRISBANE has been warned it lacks the permanent tourist attractions to become the new world city that it claims to be.
Only weeks after the city was jam-packed for a festival of football matches and major conferences, the state's tourism boss said visitors weren't thinking about Brisbane outside of special events.
The city, devastated by floods in January, has struggled to maintain its visitor numbers despite an upbeat feeling fuelled by the Maroons' stirring State of Origin win, the Reds' Super Rugby triumph and the Surrealism exhibition at the Gallery of Modern Art.
Riverlife owner John Sharp backed the call for more accommodation options in Brisbane, saying business travellers and major events often meant it was difficult for tourists to find a bed in the city.
The investment and infrastructure plan was supposed to help guide the State Government's 10-year tourism strategy and called for two new five-star hotels and major piers in Brisbane and an aquarium on Moreton Bay.
The Bligh Government focused its recent Budget spend on an $83 million bid to lure more events to the state in the next four years.
Mr Hayes said interstate visitors needed more excuses to visit Brisbane and he said tourists loved the city once they arrived.
The malaise is affecting the rest of the state with the Tourism Transport and Industry Forum warning this month the Sunshine State was suffering from perceptions it was "either under water or had been blown away in the first three months of 2011".
The latest National Visitor Survey reveals domestic visitor nights in Queensland had fallen by a quarter compared to 3 per cent growth in the rest of the country.
Occupancy on the Gold Coast was down by 4 per cent (66 per cent) and at 52 per cent in Cairns.
International visits (January-March) also declined by 5 per cent.
Budding Brisbane must find ways to bloom
BRISBANE may have shaken off its "cow town" image but interstate people still need an excuse to visit, according to Tourism Queensland boss Anthony Hayes.
Even the travel books that once criticised the city as a backwater are now on board after Lonely Planet this week said Brisbane was redefining itself as a foodie destination with a vibrant cafe scene.
It's a far better review than Perth, "the home of cashed-up bogans living off the mining boom".
But three years after a report recommended 10 major tourism projects to kick-start the industry and provide a catalyst for up to 80 more projects in Brisbane, none have been done.
Mr Hayes says interstate people don't think badly of the city, they just don't think about it at all.
He said Brisbane was now a "new world city", but without major attractions like the Gallery of Modern Art's Surrealism exhibition there was no reason to visit.
However, once people came, their attitudes changed, he said.
"A lot of people have not formed an opinion (of Brisbane), but a lot of that negativity of the past, like it was trapped in 1974, has gone, but they don't know what it is.
"We need to give them an excuse. The events (like the Surrealism exhibition) are the excuse to come here, otherwise why would you come to Brisbane for a weekend?"
Mr Hayes also said he was disappointed that none of the 10 catalyst projects had been achieved, but he said some were not realistic.
Former lord mayor Jim Soorley said Brisbane could never be criticised as boring but admitted it could be better advertised.
"Why doesn't (Brisbane) pull their finger out and do an advertising campaign like Melbourne's?" Mr Soorley said.
"I was there last week and it was cold and miserable but they have had a very successful campaign."
He said the Gold Coast's law and order issues were also a problem for Queensland tourism, an issue Mr Hayes recognised but said was being overcome.
"If you asked five years ago I would have said we have some work ahead of us, but now we are halfway through the work. There's a lot of good stuff going on."
Gold Coast tourism has also been slashed by a dramatic change in habits, with Australians scrapping the idea of a long holiday.
Mr Hayes said visitations to the Gold Coast were still strong but spending had been slashed by 11 per cent in the 12 months to the end of March, probably because people feared losing their job or were concerned about finances.
"The traditional two-to-three week holiday is not happening. People are coming for shorter breaks, whether it's because of uncertainty or there's a focus on putting more money in the bank."
SUGGESTED 'MISSING' ATTRACTIONS
1. Internationally significant indigenous visitor attraction on South Bank;
2. Aquarium and Marine Discovery Centre on a centrally located river frontage site;
3. Story of Brisbane at Mt Coot-tha;
4. Development of Brisbane River Piers;
5. Relocation and redevelopment of Cruise Terminal;
6. Two major international brand 5-6 star hotels to be built at Victoria Park and a downtown CBD location;
7. Ipswich Railway Heritage precinct development with convention centre;
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8. Developing a major walk with associated huts and high quality lodge accommodation infrastructure in the Scenic Rim;
9. Creation of a new ferry terminal for Moreton Bay Islands on Brisbane River; and
10. Creation of an eco-resort on Moreton Island.http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
Tourism Queensland head Anthony Hayes said Brisbane was an events city and without major permanent attractions there was "no excuse" for tourists to visit.
Three years after a report recommended 10 major tourism projects to kickstart the industry, none had been completed.
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