A Cairns-based business has developed a new suite of tools and services designed to enhance the ability of Far North Queensland’s tourism industry to promote itself in both domestic and international markets.
Federal Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch said the Didgigo Tropical North Queensland Tourism Export Accelerator would allow businesses to quickly create and produce high-quality personalised travel quotes and documents for print, email or URL sharing for desktop, tablet and mobile.
He said the federal government had committed $197,642 towards the $395,285 project under the Regional Jobs and Investment Packages program.
“The accelerator will enable tourism operators in Tropical North Queensland to better promote themselves by participating in a range of digital marketing activities designed to take their products to buyers around Australia and the world,” Mr Entsch said.
“The project has produced a full suite of digital marketing tools which enable users to deliver, for example, a travellers’ mobile app that allows agents to communicate with their clients, API connections with major tour operating systems, and a range of tour operating financial management services.”
Didgigo managing director Matt McKinley said the RJIP Grant enabled the company to progress to further commercialisation in development, testing and release of vital workflow modules that benefited their clients across the globe.
“The grant delivered confidence that we could employ local talent and focus their skills into the delivery of the module which is in turn driving new clients to our services,” Mr McKinley said.
“Our client survival is based around connectivity, personalisation, mobilisation and data efficiencies, which when coupled with data interpretation leads to the intelligence that drives business decision-making today.
“Didgigo additional modules supported by the RJIP grant are now ready to make this impact for existing and new travel businesses across the globe”.
Deputy Prime Minister and Regional Development Minister Michael McCormack said the accelerator delivered many other benefits.
“As a result it would make it easier and more cost-effective for travel companies both here and abroad to promote Australia, particularly the tropical north,” Mr McCormack said.
“In addition, the need to employ and train new staff in how to make the most of this innovative system, will also provide a boost to the skilled labour force in this region.”
The project supported nine jobs during the system’s development phase and is expected to create around 21 ongoing positions.
