Tigerair Australia has teamed up with Mackay Airport, Mackay Regional Council and Mackay Tourism to help lure Melbournians to the understated jewel in Queensland’s crown – Mackay.
Leveraging the ‘101 Things To Do in the Mackay Region’ campaign which launched earlier this year to help turn outdated perceptions of the Mackay Region around, a range of marketing initiatives commence from this weekend focused on appealing directly to the leisure market in Victoria.
A special episode dedicated to highlighting some of the tourism drawcards of Mackay will air in Victoria on Coxy’s Big Break travel show this Sunday 22 February 2015 at 5:30pm on Channel 7. TV show host “Coxy” flies from Melbourne to Mackay direct with Tigerair and uncovers a sample of the many hidden gems of the region; including a platypus diving experience, Keswick Island, the rain- forest ziplining experience, jet boating, cable wake boarding and more. As always, at the end of the show will be a special ‘Mates Rates’ offer for viewers to snap up an exclusive travel deal.
A dedicated landing page promoting the Mackay Region as a leisure destination will be linked from the Tigerair website later this month and a social media campaign will encourage people to send in their own favourite things to do in Mackay to be in to win travel prizes to the region. Tigerair’s inflight magazine Tiger Tales has a feature article on Mackay and the Mackay Airport Beach Horse Racing Festival in the March/April edition and direct marketing will also be used to encourage people to visit Mackay.
Council’s Tourism and Economic Development portfolio councillor Greg Martin said this was an example of how all stakeholders partnering to promote the Mackay region could have an outstanding outcome.
“Coxy’s Big Break is one of the highest rating travel shows in regional Victoria and is the perfect vehicle for our push into attracting the southern market to explore the natural tropical assets of our region,’’ Mr Martin said.
“The southern perception of Mackay as a mining town needs to be changed and the focus turned on the reality of our amazing 28 beaches, tropical rainforest and wonderful climate.
“If you are standing in the cold and rain in Melbourne in July and a tropical beach is less than $100 and under three hours way direct, well, I know where I would be booking a weekend away to ease the winter blues.”
Greg Martin