$5m package to lure back visitors to the Far North
A major tourism campaign aims to shift a national perception that the entire Far North region was decimated by flooding and Cyclone Jasper through cheap flights and accommodation packages.
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A multimillion dollar tourism campaign aims to shift a national perception that the entire Far North region was decimated by flooding and Tropical Cyclone Jasper through discount flights and accommodation packages.
The $5m package is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
While the tail end of the system did trigger unprecedented flooding in a handful of Cairns suburbs, along the Bloomfield River and caused significant damage to road infrastructure, the broader region remained largely unaffected.
On Friday, the Qantas Group will launch a special sale to encourage Australians to visit Cairns and Far North Queensland to support tourism operators.
Domestic one-way fares on Qantas and Jetstar economy seats to Cairns start from $129 and $79 respectively.
The sales include flights to and from most capital cities and intrastate routes for travel from mid-January to the end of March 2024.
Premier Steven Miles said the tourism recovery package aimed to provide crucial support to local businesses, local families and the local economy.
“There’s no question the people of Far North Queensland are incredibly resilient in the face of natural disasters,” the Premier said.
“But they also need the world to come and share the natural beauty of the region to ensure the tourism sector thrives.”
The push to entice visitors back will help mitigate against a loss of $300m in cancelled bookings since early December.
While the coastal link connecting Port Douglas to Cairns via the Captain Cook Highway remains buried in tonnes of fallen rock, an alternate route on-board Quicksilver and Reef Unlimited cruise vessels can get visitors into the Crystalbrook Superyacht Marina for $50.
Tourism Minister Michael Healy said the campaign luring visitors north was key to the region’s recovery.
“We are an iconic domestic and international destination with some of the most unique natural attractions on the planet,” he said.
“Tourism is one of the key pillars in our Far North economy.”
Great Barrier Reef tours are heading out every day, including to the stunning Low Isles from Port Douglas. And despite attractions around Cape Tribulation being inaccessible, Daintree River croc spotting attractions assessed from the southern river bank are back online.
Tourism Tropical North Queensland chief executive Mark Olsen said the new initiative was a real shot in the arm after the loss of Christmas and New Year bookings.
“It is ideal to visit at this time of year as summer brings outstanding visibility to the Great Barrier Reef and our rainforest tours are showcasing waterfalls at their best,” he said.
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