The Airlie Beach Festival of Music has secured $175,0000 in support over three-years and is now recognised as a significant event by the Palaszczuk Government’s Queensland Destination Events Program (QDEP).
Also receiving QDEP funding support in the region are the Don River Dash 300 and the Hamilton Island Triathlon and Ocean Swim Weekend.
Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said events were crucial to Queensland tourism’s Covid-19 Economic Recovery Plan, now underway.
“We know good events bring extra visitors to town who contribute to local tourism economies and help Queensland destinations to build back better,” Mr Hinchliffe said.
“Accommodation and transport providers, hotels, restaurants, cafes and tourism operators are just some of the businesses to benefit when visitors arrive for events.
“Strong visitor economies also support local jobs.
“Over ten-years, the Airlie Beach Festival of Music has become a much-loved community event and built a solid following among Australian music fans.
“The Palaszczuk Government’s Destination Events Program has designated the Festival of Music and the $2 million it contributes to Airlie Beach as a significant event.
“We’re investing $175,000 over three-years in the Airlie Beach Festival of Music to keep this wonderful event growing and attracting visitors from around Australia.”
Ben Lee, Rogue Traders, The Badloves and Mi-Sex are among the acts announced so far for November’s Airlie Beach Festival of Music.
The festival was recently voted the People’s Choice Festival of the Year.
QDEP is also investing $15,000 in September’s Don River Dash 300, a two-day, off-road race for buggies, trucks and bikes on the dry bed of the Don River, near Bowen.
And $25,000 for the Hamilton Island Triathlon and Ocean Swim Weekend in late November.
“The Whitsundays’ events are among 25 between September 2022 and September 2023 sharing in nearly $1.1 million from the Queensland Destination Events Program,” Mr Hinchliffe said.
“Our It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar has something for just about everyone to celebrate and is expected to generate $500 million for visitor economies around the State.”
Applications for the next round of Queensland Destination Event Program funding close on 1 June for events between January 2023 and January 2024.
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