Far North Queensland tourism funding raised as an ‘issue’ for TTNQ at AGM

THE Far North’s tourism marketing body is warning that ongoing funding remains a critical concern for the organisation.

Chinese tourists Yingwen Jin and Yidie Xu take some holiday photos at the Cairns Marlin Marina, boosting tourism in Far North Queensland. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE

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THE Far North’s tourism marketing body is warning that ongoing funding remains a critical concern for the organisation.

“Sustainable funding remains an issue for our organisation,” Tourism Tropical North Queensland chair­woman Wendy Morris and chief executive Pip Close told members at the annual meeting last night.

“Cairns Regional Council announced in June 2018 that TTNQ’s funding would increase in the next reporting period, sending a strong message that tourism is everybody’s business in Cairns and that we need to work together to market Tropical North Queensland to Australia and the world,” they said.

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The council allocated an extra $400,000 to destination marketing, to total $3.4 million, and gave an extra $1.1 million to support and develop major sporting and significant cultural events in 2018-19.

TTNQ’s annual report showed a drop in revenue of more than $300,000 to $8.23 million yet the surplus rose more than $20,000 to $184,114.

Business events drawn by TTNQ had more than doubled, from $45 million a year to $111 million.

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“Supporting aviation continues to be a major focus as we work in partnership with the China Southern consortium, including Cairns Airport, Tourism and Events Queensland and Tourism Australia, to build a sustainable direct aviation route,” the report said.

“Securing new international routes remains critical to increasing visitor numbers and freeing up seats for the domestic market.”

Originally published as Far North Queensland tourism funding raised as an ‘issue’ for TTNQ at AGM