‘Open for business’: Urgent pleas for tourists not to cancel FNQ holidays

It has been revealed the Great Barrier Reef suffered “very little” cyclone damage as an urgent plea is issued for tourists to keep their holiday plans.

An urgent plea has been issued to visitors with existing bookings to Tropical North Queensland to not cancel their holiday plans, with the tourism sector predicted to lose $125 million over December and January.

Tourism Tropical North Queensland chief executive Mark Olsen said the level of cancellations for January was “very concerning” and it was vital that people still made forward bookings for 2024.

The road from Cairns to Port Douglas before the cyclone.

The road to Port Douglas has been hit with landslides following Tropical Cyclone Jasper. Picture: Brendan Radke

“Tropical North Queensland operators have already lost $60 million in bookings and are likely to lose $125 million over December and January, which represents 15 to 20 per cent of total expenditure over those months,” he said.

“Our community is pulling together with emergency service providers to help the people who have been impacted by flooding, but many of these people are small business owners or employees in the tourism industry who depend on visitors for their income.

With many key roads reopening and recovery efforts underway, tourists have been encouraged to return to flood-stricken areas.

Work is being done across the region to repair roadways and damage. Picture: Brendan Radke

“Many more experiences have opened including the Cairns Aquarium, while others such as Kuranda day tours are available from tomorrow and Paronella Park resumes on Friday,” Mr Olsen said.

“The Captain Cook Highway has reopened between Palm Cove and Cairns, along with the Kuranda Range Road and the Gillies Highway.

“There are two boat services a day between Cairns and Port Douglas while the coastal road is being repaired and we anticipate the inland road to Port Douglas will reopen by the weekend.

“Mission Beach has been unaffected with their newest product, The Elandra, welcoming its first guests.”

Meanwhile Mr Olsen told Sky News there was “very little” cyclone damage to the Great Barrier Reef.

Great Barrier Reef from above. (Taken prior to Cyclone Jasper.)

“We were really pleased … it looks like the reef is holding up in really good stead,” he said.

Visitors are reminded to check with their accommodation provider to ensure they are open for business before heading north.