Australia's Sunshine State is 'Open For Business'

SYDNEY, February 23, 2011 - After making headlines around the world for the recent floods and
cyclone, the largely unaffected world-famous travel destinations of
Australia's 'sunshine state' Queensland are open and ready to welcome
visitors.

This has been demonstrated by a number of well known personalities who
have visited the destinations and made films highlighting recovery.

For the multimedia news release, please go to:

medianet.multimediarelease.com.au/bundles/17d85de1-adf5-4974-969d-f47064effda6

Brisbane, Cairns, the Great Barrier Reef, the Sunshine and Gold Coasts,
Fraser Coast, Bundaberg, the Whitsundays and Mackay are looking as good as
ever and continue to offer amazing holiday experiences for travellers from
around the world. Those destinations that were affected are well on the road
to recovery with the majority of tourism operators including accommodation
providers, tours and attractions open and ready to welcome visitors.

Whether it's the sunshine, the stunning beaches, reef and rainforests, or
the people and the great outdoor lifestyle - all the much loved aspects of
Queensland are ready and waiting to be enjoyed as part of an Australian
holiday.

Scottish comedian Billy Connolly was among the many who have been
visiting Queensland in recent days. Billy was hosted by the Queensland
Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) for his first ever visit to the Great Barrier
Reef, one of the seven natural wonders of the world.

Tourism Australia Managing Director Andrew McEvoy urged travellers
intending to holiday in Queensland to continue with their plans to visit the
state, or if they didn't already have a booking, to consider taking a
Queensland holiday.

"The recent floods and cyclone made news around the world, but Queensland
is a big state (668,207 square miles including its islands) and the majority
of the top holiday spots are looking as beautiful as ever and are operating
normally," Mr McEvoy said.

"Unfortunately some travellers have been cancelling their Queensland
holidays thanks to the coverage of the recent weather. But the truth is that
most of Queensland's tourism infrastructure has been unaffected," Mr McEvoy
said.

Check out some recent footage from around Queensland:

    - Brisbane is back in Business, by Ben Southall
    - Gold Coast
    - Port Douglas
    - Sunshine Coast
    - Tourism Queensland channel on Green TV
    - Tourism Tropical North Queensland
    - Natural Encounter vignettes (Tropical North Queensland,
      Whitsundays, Capricorn Coast)

To assist the tourism industry whose businesses have affected, Tourism
Australia is working closely with Tourism Queensland on a range of marketing
activities to drive immediate business as well as address perceptions about
the extent of damage to Queensland tourism experiences.

    For further information contact:

    Kim Moore
    Tourism Australia
    Ph: +61-2-9361-1306
    E: kmoore@tourism.australia.com

    Leo Seaton
    Tourism Australia
    Ph: +61-2-9361-1363
    E: lseaton@tourism.australia.com

    Kerri Anderson
    Tourism Queensland
    Ph: +61-7-3535-5010
    E: Kerri.Anderson@tq.com.au

Kim Moore, +61-2-9361-1306, kmoore at tourism.australia.com; Leo Seaton, +61-2-9361-1363, lseaton at tourism.australia.com, both of Tourism Australia; Kerri Anderson, +61-7-3535-5010, Kerri.Anderson at tq.com.au, of Tourism Queensland