REDLAND City Council's latest tourism video has won an international gong and catapulted the region onto the world stage.
The Redlands Coast on Quandamooka Country video won the Best Cultural Tourism award in the Japan World's Tourism Film Festival.
Mayor Karen Williams said the accolade was a great endorsement for the naturally wonderful Redlands Coast during Queensland's Year of Indigenous Tourism.
"The cinematic destination video is beautifully narrated by renowned artist Delvene Cockatoo-Collins, a proud Nunukul, Ngugi and Goenpul woman of Quandamooka Country, and illustrates her connection to the magical places across Redlands Coast," she said.
Ms Cockatoo-Collins said the award was very exciting news for the region.
"It's a privilege to share the beautiful natural environment and the legacy our people have left here for us," she said.
"The team behind the video was amazing - that includes everyone in council's tourism team, the Yulu Burri Ba dancers and all the businesses. The team has beautifully captured what's here," she said.
Matt Raimondo, who produced and directed the video said the Redlands was a beautiful place that spoke to people's hearts.
"I'm honoured I was able to work with Delvene and give her the chance to share the story of her amazing connection to the land and to her culture.
"She was just a beautiful person to work with and the video allows her personality to come through," he said.
Cr Williams said the video was developed as part of council's Reconnect on Redlands Coast campaign to help the tourism industry recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
"The campaign was viewed more than 2.57 million times and tourism operators reported an increase in both out-of-region visitors and local residents holidaying in other parts of the city," she said.
In the 2019/20 financial year, the region attracted more than 1.2 million visitors who contributed $228 million to the local economy.
Straddie Chamber of Commerce president Col Battersby congratulated council for the vision to develop a world-class video that was helping drive visitors to Redlands Coast, including Minjerribah/North Stradbroke Island.
"The Straddie Chamber and Council worked closely on the Redlands Coast tourism campaign, of which this was a component, and that came out just after COVID-19 restrictions were eased last year," he said.
"What a well-deserved gong. It is an incredible video that promotes one of the best places on earth, and the oldest living culture in the world."
The video is expected to screen in Brisbane cinemas this year.
- Council worked on the Reconnect on Redlands Coast campaign with Straddie Chamber of Commerce; Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation; the Department of Tourism, Innovation and Sport; Tourism and Events Queensland; Brisbane Economic Development Agency and SeaLink.
