FNQ tourism operators relieved with school holiday business

FNQ tourism operators were delighted domestic visitor numbers exceeded expectations over the Easter school holidays and many have reported high numbers booked in for the July break.

A SURGE in visitor numbers over the recent Easter break and school holidays has given FNQ tourism operators a spring in their step, with many reporting a healthy increase in bookings.

After two and a half years of the pandemic, business owners have said they are thrilled with a strong return of domestic tourists but said there’s still a way to go for international guests to reach pre-Covid levels.

For Passions of Paradise managing director Alan Wallish, a robust rise in the number of tourists booking to head out from Cairns to view, snorkel or scuba the Great Barrier Reef, has been fantastic.

Passions of Paradise managing director Alan Wallish said he and his staff are thrilled by the uptick in visitor number wanting to visit the Great Barrier Reef over the Easter school holidays. Picture: Supplied

“Visitor numbers have been reassuringly strong, we have been booked with solid numbers around 90 people each time,” Mr Wallish said.

“We are very happy as we were concerned that after the Easter rush it would dip and while it has a little, even with the rain, people want to go out and see the Reef.

“People are taking every opportunity to travel, it’s is the Australian mentality and it’s starting to get a little cold down south, so we would expect Cairns to be very busy.”

Tourism Port Douglas Daintree Executive Officer Tara Bennett, said local business are thrilled to have very high occupancy rates over the holidays. Picture: Gizelle Ghidella

Tourism Port Douglas Daintree, chief executive, Tara Bennett said the town has its vibe back after visitor numbers soared during the school holidays.

“A number of tourism businesses here had their best April on record with the town reporting a 90 per cent plus occupancy,” she said.

“It was amazing and we benefited from the Queenslanders having different holiday dates from other states so we had four busy weeks.

“There’s now that buzz about which has lifted everyone and the forward outlook is very positive with the region expecting above 80 per cent occupancy from late June to October.”

Tourism Tropical North Queensland general manager Rosie Douglas said visitors were proving they are keen to enjoy tropical hospitality. Picture: Brendan Radke.

Tourism Tropical North Queensland general manager Rosie Douglas said forward bookings for accommodation were great for the next five months after a busy month of long weekends.

“Our operators have enjoyed a strong April with occupancy reaching more than 95 per cent over Easter at beachside destinations like Port Douglas and Palm Cove over Easter,” she said.

“Visitors have been keen to try the world-class experiences showcasing the Great Barrier Reef and the world’s oldest rainforest and the restaurants were very busy.”

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Quicksilver Group managing director, Tony Baker, said they had experienced a busier than expected April.

Mr Baker said despite supply chain issues such as food shortages caused by the flooding in the south of the state, “causing some scambling,” he felt the industry did an excellent job to make the visitor experience positive.

“We are now looking forward to a busy June and July,” Mr Baker said.

Quicksilver Group managing director Tony Baker said while domestic visitor numbers were up, he is looking forward to a return to international guests. Picture: Brendan Radke

Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, general manager Richard Berman-Hardman said the improved business over the holidays was “due to a perfect storm of Australians being able to travel domestically and school holidays.”

“We were tracking to where we were before Covid, which is encouraging,” he said.

“In April we were 10 per cent up on pre-Covid and well in excess of what we were hoping for.”

A gondola approaches Barron Falls on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway which has reported an increase in visitor numbers over the Easter school holidays. Supplied: Tourism and Events Queensland

Crystalbrook regional general manager (hotels) Queensland, Joel Gordon said their Cairns hotels and venues reached a 90 to 95 per cent occupancy over the Easter holidays.

“We went into Easter with a lot of confidence,” he said.

“It was the first time we had all our hotels and venues open.”

“June and July we expect an 85 to 90 per cent occupancy.”

Originally published as FNQ tourism operators relieved with school holiday business