Architecture to boost Queensland tourism

Queensland architects are set to play a pivotal role in boosting the state's tourism economy as new development opportunities arise.

The design industry came together last night at Queensland's annual Australian Institute of Architects President's Dinner where tourism leader, Don Morris spoke about the critical importance of architects in helping shape the future of Queensland's tourism market.

Morris used the Sydney Opera House as an example to highlight the significant role architecture plays in the global tourism market and discussed new opportunities that exist for tourism and architecture in Queensland.

Morris explained "tourism is the world's largest commercial consumer activity, with over one billion tourists travelling internationally for the first time in 2012.

"Visitors to the Sydney Opera House contribute $775 million to Australia's tourism economy each year. More importantly, the same study found that, overwhelmingly, audiences placed a significantly higher 'value' on the experience of being at the Sydney Opera House than the quality of the performance or the ticket price itself.

"Queensland is at the cusp of a long awaited boom in new tourism infrastructure (and) a generational opportunity is therefore on our architects and design communities to bring new groundbreaking 21st century creativity and ingenuity to 'getting it right' for Queensland and our huge tourism economy."

Australian Institute of Architects' Queensland Chapter President, Shane Thompson said the Queensland Government's plans to redevelop Brisbane's historic government precinct presents an excellent opportunity for leading architects in Queensland to be part of creating a dynamic commercial and leisure precinct for locals and tourists alike.

Thompson stated "Queensland architects are now recognised as world leaders (as) attested to recently at the World Architecture Festival Awards in Singapore.

"Future tourism developments will be far better served by creating the kind of authentic Queensland places and experiences that only Queensland architects can achieve."

The event, which was held at Customs House Brisbane, also saw the presentation of honorary awards including President's Prizes to ABC Radio National By Design Producer, Janne Ryan and landmark sustainable residential development, the Ecovillage at Currumbin.

The night's presentations also named the Institute's 2013 Life Fellow and Fellow recipients and the winners of the QIA Medallion and the Board of Architects' Queensland Prize.

The event was sponsored by BCA Certifiers.