UK Travel Leaders Wooed and Wowed on the Sunshine Coast

Some of the biggest names in the United Kingdom and Nordic travel industry toured the Sunshine Coast region this week.

Hosted by Sunshine Coast Destination Ltd (SCDL), the eight travel product managers were accompanied by Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ) regional director Jane Nicholson.  

Trade and International Manager of SCDL Jan Foletta said this visit was a wonderful opportunity for us to pull out all stops and showcase the Sunshine Coast region to key decision makers from the UK.

"SCDL is pleased to invest in this cooperative activity bringing influential product managers to the Sunshine Coast to touch, see and taste our lifestyle through new products, experiences and developments. This provides our tourism industry with a unique opportunity as the managers are seeking inclusions for their 2014 programs.

"We know that our naturally refreshing branding is a perfect match with UK visitors as they enjoy our natural environment of beaches, national parks and wildlife, and as part of this trip we are able to showcase our natural assets along with the new products and experiences we have on offer."

TEQ regional director Jane Nicholson said the managers were excited away by the diversity of the Sunshine Coast, all within an hour's drive of Brisbane.

"The participants simply loved the diversity of the region - the stunning Sunshine Coast Hinterland, a function at Aussie World, cuddling koalas at Australia Zoo, Mooloolaba Esplanade, Noosa Dreamboats and stand up paddle boarding for the first time in Noosa. They were simply blown away by Makepeace Island."

The group were escorted by SCDL throughout their stay and visited Glasshouse Mountains Eco Lodge, Australia Zoo, Rumba Beach Resort, Oceans Mooloolaba, UnderWater World, Sunreef Scuba Diving, Spicers Clovelly Estate, Narrows Escape Rainforest Retreat, Noosa Dreamboats, Noosa Everglades Discovery, Netanya Noosa and Makepeace Island before heading to Fraser Island.

To the year ending September 2012, the Sunshine Coast attracted 44,000 visitors from the UK.

Photo 1)  the UK product managers loved Noosa Dreamboats and stand up paddle boarding. 
Photo 2) (left to right) Rebecca Turner (Gold Medal), Kate Warburton (Austravel), Katrin Rummer (Stella Travel) and Tracey Ann James (Tailor Made) enjoy a tour of UnderWater World.
Photo 3) the girls master stand up paddle boarding.