Mike Cannon, Executive Director of the Association of Australian Convention Bureaux (AACB) said “Any funding to help position Queensland as a destination for business events in the highly competitive international arena has to be a positive, forward thinking strategy that is good for Queensland - and Australia”.
Premier Bligh’s events funding announcement in this weeks State Budget included an annual $4M investment in Queensland’s Convention Bureaux and attracting more business events to Queensland.
Mr. Cannon said “the Premier and her Government have to be congratulated for their vision”.
“What’s good for Queensland is good for Australia, and this initiative will move the marketing beyond state and regional rivalry with minimal opportunity for growth, to an international environment at a time when it is really needed”.
“In particular, the funding provided for bid-support will allow the convention bureaux of Queensland to be more competitive in combating the initiatives by their core competitors in South East Asia and China”, said Mr. Cannon.
Quoting highly regarded event analysts and futurists, AACB’s President Damien Kitto, CEO of the Adelaide Convention Bureau added that "Business Events provide opportunities to network and collaborate locally and globally, providing an environment for the exchange of ideas and skills”.
"Business Events drive long-term economic development by creating an environment for knowledge transfer in the industries and professions of Queensland and Australia."
“AACB wishes the Government of Queensland and its agencies every good fortune with the initiative, and looks forward to collaboration with the various marketing authorities to make this work”, Mr. Kitto concluded.
