The first day of spring brought blue skies for the Bundaberg tourism industry with a record response to the opening of Mon Repos Turtle Encounter ticket sales and major tourism operators recording considerable increases in interest and forward bookings.

Summer holidays are officially on the horizon in Bundaberg as tickets for the 2020/21 Mon Repos Turtle Encounter go on sale at 10am Wednesday 1 September.

The Mon Repos Turtle Encounter, held from November to March each year, operated by the expert guides of the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service rangers and the volunteers who return year after year to assist in the conservation of the endangered loggerhead turtles.

Holiday makers are also making their way to the region to visit the Southern Great Barrier Reef for an immersive, underwater turtle encounter around the coral cays of Lady Elliot Island and Lady Musgrave Island.

Bundaberg Tourism is proud to commence the second round of the Bundaberg Region Resilient Leadership & Mentoring Program, a key part of their COVID support programs.

Celebrating success is an integral part of any business and with nominations now open for the Bundaberg Regional Chambers of Commerce 2021 Business Excellence Awards this is an ideal time for our region’s businesses to celebrate and be recognised for their achievements.

The aims of the Chamber Business Awards are to recognise and reward business excellence within their industry, provide networking opportunities and assist businesses in sharing success and developing new relationships.

The opportunities to work with tourism trade have never been stronger for the Bundaberg Region. COVID-19 has forced Australians to holiday at home, so agents across Australia are desperate for product with availability to sell to their clients. As a destination so easily accessible from Brisbane and with fewer crowds Bundaberg is well placed to take advantage of these distribution opportunities.

Whilst travel as we know it has changed drastically in the last 16 months, one thing that hasn't changed is the importance of the accessible tourism sector. Though there are operators and businesses initiating great change, there is still more that needs to be done to ensure that the entire tourism industry listens, learns and acts.

Having an accessible business is about ensuring businesses and the services, infrastructure, public spaces, accommodation, and transport modes developed and delivered are accessible for all, especially for people with disability.

In the wake of the New South Wales hotspot declarations, TEQ is launching an intrastate marketing blitz this Sunday, 27 June to encourage Queenslanders to book a last-minute winter holiday to fill any cancellations or remaining availability.

Against all odds, the Bundaberg region’s tourism industry has established itself as a force to be reckoned with over the past year, with 12 months of tireless tourism trade work culminating in some of our leading operators attending the nation’s top tourism trade event, the Australian Tourism Exchange.