$20 million invested to make Queensland a major music tourism destination

The Queensland Government will invest $20 million over three years in next week’s State Budget to deliver the a ‘road trip meets music festival’ initiative to make Queensland a major music tourism destination.

With the new funding, Queensland Music Festival (QMF) will deliver events in 16 communities across four regions starting in the outback in May 2023.

From country and western in Stanthorpe, to indie rock in the Whitsundays, classic rock in Townsville, opera in the outback or Indigenous artists at Yarrabah Music and Cultural Festival – these events will expose tourists to some of the best experiences Queensland has to offer.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk advised “through this program, you’ll be able to see some of the world’s biggest stars play at some of the most remote and picturesque destinations in the country.

“Importantly, this investment will support jobs and inject funds into our music industry and growing regional communities that were hit hard during COVID.”

Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the Queensland Music Trails will drive domestic and international visitors to regional destinations with itineraries linking music events, and local tourism, art and cultural experiences.

“The arts are vital to the state’s economic recovery, and before the global pandemic, contributed $8.5 billion annually to the economy and supported more than 92,000 jobs across Queensland,” Minister Hinchliffe said.

“This is a unique concept that combines music alongside an established regional event and showcases our diverse landscapes to visitors who are after a different kind of memorable experience on their holiday.

“Following a 2021 trial of the Queensland Music Trails, the funding will be used by the Queensland Music Festival to develop a series of regional tourism and drive itineraries aimed at motivating people to travel to and around regional Queensland to experience music and art events designed for that area.

“The trail itinerary will lead visitors to locations where an event is already being hosted, for example it may be the Toowoomba Flower Carnival, Cairns Indigenous Arts Festival, or Hamilton Island Race Week, and it adds another drawcard event,” he said.

Delivered by the Queensland Music Festival (QMF), the 2021 Queensland Music Trail pilot included performances by Opera Queensland and Ensemble Q at the Jimbour Homestead in the Darling Downs, music while stargazing at the Cosmos Centre in Charleville and visual theatre at twilight on the stunning landscape of Quilpie.

Minister Hinchliffe added “the Queensland Music Festival concept will showcase our stunning landscapes, raise the profile of existing events, integrate our First Nations cultures through art and music, and provide domestic and international visitors another reason to come to Queensland.

“In the lead-up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, we will continue to foster the development of Queensland’s arts and cultural event offerings capable of driving visitation and legacy benefits for Queensland’s regions.

“This will be a key step to building Queensland’s cultural events calendar to be ready to host the world in 2032.”

Image: Ball Park Music at The Long Sunset - a brand new live music and camping experience, just a short hour's drive from Surfers Paradise. Credit Queensland Music Trails