Bright future for tourism in Caloundra

Caloundra’s appeal as one of Australia’s most popular family holiday destinations will continue to grow under a new destination management structure.

The newly formed Sunshine Coast Destination Ltd officially commenced operations on 1 July 2010, complete with a dedicated Destination Desk to market and develop tourism within the Sunshine Coast’s Southern region.

Under the new structure, the former Caloundra Tourism Inc wound up operations on 31 August 2010.  The Caloundra Tourism Inc Board has transitioned to become the Caloundra Destination Advisory Panel.

The Southern Destination Desk will be led by the Advisory Panel and the newly appointed Southern Destination Manager, Gemma O’Brien.

Gemma is well-known for her achievements as Tourism Sunshine Coast’s Destination Marketing Manager.  Prior to this, Gemma held tourism marketing roles with the Hawaii Visitors Bureau and Tourism Australia in London.

The new Advisory Panel consists of Mike Wilkinson (former Caloundra Tourism Inc president), Bill Darby (Rumba Beach Resort), Barry Collins (Monaco Caloundra), Dr Heather Pavitt (USC), Don Smith (former Councillor), Glenda Davis-Smith (The Coffee Club), Mick Sullivan (Sunshine Coast Turf Club), Natalie Hodgskin (Australia Zoo), Steve Gaeth (Caloundra Chamber of Commerce and Industry), Leanne Layfield (former executive officer of Caloundra Tourism) and Don Jackson (Sunshine Coast Turf Club Chairman, board member of the Brisbane Broncos, Brisbane Markets and the Sunshine Coast Helicopter Rescue Service, and chairman of Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal Holdings).

Advisory Panel chair Mike Wilkinson said Caloundra was fortunate to again have a high calibre group of professionals who were prepared to donate their time and contribute to the success of the tourism industry.