not really Wellcamp related but of interest to @mnewbery
Departing tourism CEO hails Wagner's 'vision' for sector
Tom Gillespie
2 minutes
9th Jan 2019 3:02 PM
Subscriber only
THE former CEO of one of the Darling Downs' competing tourism authorities has backed the two groups joining forces to propel the sector forward.
Ruth Wetmore, who was the main face of John Wagner's privately-run Tourism Darling Downs for 18 months, today confirmed she had finished her contract with the organisation to return to work in Sydney.
Ms Wetmore said she loved her time in the region, so much so she stayed six months longer than her original contract.
"I had a one-year contract to put tourism back on the map. I feel I had achieved those goals," she said.
"We had demonstrated to those who had been funding tourism that there was another way.
"I did 500 one-on-ones with operators.
"We got China here, we had international tour operators come through who loved the area.
"I have been passionate about the region - it was an amazing journey for me."
Ms Wetmore also praised the work of Mr Wagner, calling him a "visionary".
"The bottom line is what I and John wanted was to give tourism a massive boost and let it continue in an entity that could be funded for the future," she said.
Ms Wetmore's comments come as a major shake-up in the tourism industry looms, centred around the structure and leadership at TDD and the council and government-funded Southern Queensland Country Tourism.