Far North Queensland tourism: New data shows visitor expenditure tops pre-pandemic levels

Another cruise ship has arrived in Cairns as new data reveals the Far North topped pre-pandemic levels of visitor expenditure from domestic tourism with guests staying for longer. FIND OUT MORE

NEW data has revealed the Far North topped pre-pandemic levels of visitor expenditure from domestic tourism with guests staying for longer and spending more.

Tourism Tropical North Queensland chief executive Mark Olsen said the region was one of the most impacted in Australia by Covid.

“We were seeing just under $3m a day from visitor expenditure during Covid,” he said.

“Today what we’ve seen from national statistics that’s rocketed back up to $8.5m per day spent in our region. A total of $3b of business expenditure.

TTNQ chairman Ken Chapman said visitors had come in droves.

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“We are seeing visitors coming back in droves but more importantly they are staying longer and they are spending more,” he said.

“We actually saw in the 12 months to the end of March more visitor spend than pre-Covid (up 18.8 per cent).”

However the region is still $500m short of pre-pandemic levels because of $1b from the international market set to return.

“The domestic is well up but not quite enough to make up for the loss,” he said.

The return to the cruise ship industry is one of those contributing factors.

Mr Olsen said the region could carry over 55,000 visitors on any given day.

“Cruises are a really important part of the destination,” he said.

“Between now and Christmas there are 70 cruise ships booked about 130 for the destination between now and June next year.”

Tourism Tropical North Queensland chief executive Mark Olsen. Picture: Bronwyn Farr.

The Coral Princess cruise arrived in Cairns about 10am on Wednesday and was expected to leave at 9pm the same day.

Cilla Dazeley from Brisbane planned an action packed day despite the short turnaround.

“I am an addict, this is my 25th cruise,” she said.

“We are doing the whole (day) at Cairns Zoom and Wildlife Dome, koala photos, the dome climb, the two zip lines.

“The international tourists aren’t here, so we are doing all the things they are crying out for on the TV, because Cairns is missing out on all the tourism.”

Originally published as Far North Queensland tourism: New data shows visitor expenditure tops pre-pandemic levels