TTNQ's Rob Giason to step down as tourism surges ahead

Tourism Tropical North Queensland (TTNQ) Chief Executive Rob Giason is to step down from his role in December after a 39-year career in tourism marketing and management roles.

With tourism surging in North Queensland, TTNQ Chair Stephen Gregg acknowledged Giason's departure saying he had the TTNQ board's full support.

Gregg explained "Rob is leaving this chapter of a remarkable career knowing that the tourism industry he led through tough times is now forging ahead with strong growth.

"We will begin recruiting for a new Chief Executive Officer immediately so someone is in place before he departs on 20th December."

Giason said he would have a decent break before pursuing interesting project management roles nationally and abroad.

He stated "in between I will be doing some jobs for my wife Leonie, our four children and pampering our four grandchildren.

"It is with a heavy heart that I have made this decision to cease my full-time tourism career, but there comes a time to look at the world in a different light and enjoy the lifestyle I have been so passionately selling for the past eight years, starting with moving my morning bike ride from 5.30am to 7am and stopping for a relaxing coffee or three afterwards.

"I am very proud of how I am leaving the organisation on track to achieve its goal of boosting tourism expenditure in the region by $1 billion to $3.2 billion in 2015 and after eight years it is time for new blood to take TTNQ into the future."

When Giason came into the job in October 2005, tourism in North Queensland was thriving. However, a period of turmoil with international events, natural disasters and aviation cuts soon took their toll.

As Giason explains "valuable lessons were learnt during these tough years resulting in TTNQ devising a strategy to future proof the industry that has resulted in our region driving tourism growth in Queensland and Australia in the past 12 months.

"I believe the region's tourism industry is now in a better, stronger and more resilient state because the business community and tourism industry have come together to create a more sustainable future for both the industry and our community."

Giason said the future-proofing strategy added sporting and cultural events in the shoulder seasons and targeted growth in each of the region's seven key markets.

He concluded "TTNQ has a quality team with an exceptional skillset highly valued by the growing membership, stakeholders and contributing partners, and we are guided by a very well rounded board providing a wealth of experience and knowledge."

Rob Giason started his tourism career in Griffith in New South Wales in March 1975, before becoming General Manager with Tourism Blue Mountains and Albury Wodonga, Director of Marketing with Tourism NSW, Project Director in Korea and Taiwan for Tourism Australia and Chief Executive of Tourism Tasmania before moving to Cairns.