Far North Qld tourism deals: Airfares as low as $79

Australians are being lured to tropical North Queensland with airfares as low as $79, as part of a major government-funded tourism fightback campaign in the aftermath of the cyclone and floods.

Australians are being lured to tropical North Queensland with airfares as low as $79, as part of a major government-funded tourism fightback campaign in the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Jasper and catastrophic flooding.

Qantas and Jetstar will begin offering the discounted one-way domestic airfares — of $129 and $79 respectively — to Cairns from most capital cities and within Queensland from mid-January until the end of March.

Discounted accommodation packages will also be available in coming weeks through Qantas Hotels and Holidays, My Queensland and Luxury Escapes.

And more airlines could follow, with the state government still in discussions with other aviation and travel industry partners.

The discounts come as part of a $5m tourism recovery package jointly funded by the state and federal governments.

The Tropical North Queensland tourism industry was hit hard by holiday cancellations in December, losing close to $300m in bookings, with the sector crying out for a shot in the arm to make up for losses.

Holiday hotspots hundreds of kilometres away from the impact zone of Cyclone Jasper also reported multimillion-dollar wipe-outs as timid travellers cancelled Christmas getaways.

It’s hoped the heavily discounted fares will entice people to lock-in last minute getaways before the summer school holidays end.

Snorkellers on a Great Barrier Reef day trip. Picture: Tourism Tropical North Queensland

Tourism Events Queensland chief executive Patricia O’Callaghan said the strong prices would encourage Australians to jump on a plane to take a holiday in the Far North.

“This is exactly what our operators need up north to get back on their feet and to make up for lost revenue over their peak holiday season,” she said.

“Whether it be enjoying a tropical oasis relaxing poolside or experiencing a great adventure, from be snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef, to marvelling at ancient rainforest, exploring the local markets and dining at world-class restaurants – Cairns operators are ready to welcome you.”

Cairns-based Tourism Minister Michael Healy said the industry was a key pillar of the Far North economy and the $5m fightback package was an “immediate step on the road to recovery”.

Premier Steven Miles said the state and federal governments were committed to getting the tourism industry in the Far North back on its feet.

“There’s no question the people of Far North Queensland are incredibly resilient in the face of natural disasters,” he said.

“But they also need the world to come and share the natural beauty of the region to ensure the tourism sector thrives.

The package, administered by the Queensland Reconstruction Authority, includes a Tourism Recovery Officer to be located with Tourism Tropical North Queensland.

An Infrastructure and Business Support program is also due to open in January 2024.