Cairns quarantine hotels path back to normality under review

As the demand for quarantine hotel rooms slows down in Cairns, accommodation providers are preparing for a return to normality with rooms available for reservations. Would you book there?

THE future of Cairns’ quarantine and isolation hotels is up in the air with authorities hard-pressed to reveal details of how the accommodation providers will return to normality – but booking websites give a clue as to when the rooms will be again be available for visitors.

Although Queensland Health was unable to confirm which Cairns hotels were the government-nominated hotels “as they are commercial in confidence,” it can be revealed the demand for Pacific Hotel Cairns, Holiday Inn Cairns Harbourside and Ibis Styles Cairns has significantly dropped off since quarantine-free travel was introduced.

As of January 5, 53 hotel rooms in Cairns were being used for quarantine purposes, compared with around 90 a month earlier.

On Friday, Queensland Health confirmed across the state, there were only 21 people subject to a quarantine direction in government-arranged quarantine.

The Ibis Styles hotel on Florence Street was the latest accommodation house to join Cairns’ fleet of Covid-19 quarantine hotels. Picture: Brendan Radke

“Current restrictions, and safety measures including hotel quarantine, will remain in place for as long as they are needed to keep Queenslanders safe,” Queensland Health said in a statement.

“They are constantly reviewed and will be gradually eased when it is safe to do so.”

All three Cairns hotels chose not to respond to questions of their next steps towards normality.

The Pacific Hotel’s website has dates blocked out until the end of March, but visitors can book a room from April. The Ibis Styles and Holiday Inn Cairns Harbourside both show availability in May.

The Holiday Inn hotel on Lake Street is operating as Cairns’ second Covid-19 quarantine hotel. Picture: Brendan Radke

It comes as Queensland welcomed its first guests into the state’s dedicated Wellcamp quarantine facility at Toowoomba earlier this month.

With the 500-bed facility expected to carry the quarantine load for the state, Queensland Police have already reduced their presence at the local facilities, Cairns assistant district officer and Acting Superintendent Brad Winks confirmed.

Police has reduced its presence at quarantine hotels including the Pacific Hotel in Cairns. Picture: Stewart McLean

“Police now only respond to unexpected arrivals that do not meet the current chief health officer’s directions, or to assist Queensland Health with managing of those requiring isolation.”

He said to date, there had been five penalty infringement notices issued to people quarantined at the facilities for failing to comply with Covid-19 directions and four people had been arrested.

Originally published as Cairns quarantine hotels path back to normality under review