The first of more than 6000 Amway China delegates have touched down in Cairns as part of a month-long initiative set to pump $40 million into the Cairns economy.
Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones and Member for Cairns Michael Healy this morning welcomed the first flight carrying Amway staff into Cairns for the Amway China 2019 Leadership Seminar.
“Between now and April 17 more than 6000 staff from Amway China will travel to Cairns to experience the best the region has to offer,” Ms Jones said.
“These people are the company’s best salespeople in China and qualified to travel to Cairns where they’ll spend time on the Great Barrier Reef, get a bird’s eye view of the world-heritage listed rainforest on Skyrail and experience the only place on earth where two ancient cultures meet.”
Today’s announcement is a direct result of Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones’s trade mission to China in 2017, where she met Amway officials about the company’s incentive program for top salespeople.
“We’ve restored $188 million in tourism funding cut by the LNP. Now, we’re investing more in this industry than any other government in Queensland’s history to grow visitor numbers in key destinations like Cairns,” Ms Jones.
“It’s the sixth time the Amway Leadership Seminar has been held in Australia but the first time Amway China has come to Queensland where it’s tipped to generate $40 million for the local economy.
“This is great news for the local tourism industry and underlines our commitment to growing visitor numbers from key source markets into Cairns.”
Member for Cairns Michael Healy said the summit, secured through a partnership between Tourism and Events Queensland, Tourism Australia, Tourism Tropical North Queensland, Cairns Regional Council and Cairns Airport, would showcase Cairns as a world-class business event host.
“Business events are vital to Queensland’s economy. Delegates are here to learn and build their professional network but also enjoy a unique tourism experience, which is what sets us apart,” he said.
“When the delegates return home, they’ll tell their family, friends and colleagues about the experiences on offer here, inspiring them to visit too.
“That’s why we’ve worked hard to secure new business events for Queensland and we’ll continue to focus on growing this sector further to secure long-term benefits.”
