TikTok star Jimmy Jan highlights inclusive travel in Far North
A TikTok and Instagram star has taken to the Great Barrier Reef off Port Douglas highlighting how travel in the Far North is more accessible than ever for everyone.
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TikTok and Instagram star Jimmy Jan has celebrated the Far North’s inclusivity while holidaying in the region for World Tourism Day.
Mr Jan who is a wheelchair user donned his stinger suit and took to the Great Barrier Reef off Port Douglas.
He documented his trip out to the reef starting with his departure from Port Douglas on the Quicksilver cruises travelling out to Agincourt Reef.
His video highlights the easy access onto the catamaran and the winding ramps that made moving around the pontoon a breeze.
Jimmy also showed how he was able to get into the water using a water powered lift which was as simple as a quick seat transfer, strap in and elevator trip to the snorkelling zone.
“I haven’t been snorkelling in a really long time. I used to do heaps of scuba diving but haven't done that in a while so I was really excited to be back on the Great Barrier Reef to do some exploring,” Mr Jan said.
“It was really cool to have such accessibility so far offshore and also in one of the best parts of the Great Barrier Reef.”
The Far Norths inclusive travel has also been featured in the Accessed That podcast a show that highlight the unique experiences of travel lovers living with disabilities.
On the podcast Steph Agnew described some of her experiences travelling in the far north as someone who was blind.
“We went up to Kuranda and did the Kuranda Rail, which I was actually looking forward to,” she said.
“I have done that when I was a little kid and then also in my early 20s when I could still see a fair bit.
“I was kind of excited to experience it in a different way and I knew that I wouldn’t miss out on everything.
“I mean it is very visual, but they also have a soundtrack playing around the history of the rail and the things that you can see out to the left and the right of the carriages.
“The windows are sort of barred and open so you could feel the change in temperature.
“You could hear the waterfalls as you were going past them. The smells and those sorts of things.”
The praise for The Far Norths inclusive travel options comes as the region continues a strong year on the march out of the pandemic.
“The latest statistics indicate strong domestic visitor figures and the slow return of international markets which are now pretty much half way to a full recover,” Tourism Tropical North Queensland CEO Mark Olsen said.
“The domestic travellers are still loving Cairns and the Reef with numbers booming and we can look forward to a strong end to September and October as Aussie school holidays continue.”
TTNQ General Manager Rosie Douglas said awareness of Tropical North Queensland’s many accessible products was growing in the Year of Accessible Tourism.
“Watching influencers like Jimmy Jan snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef shows there are no barriers to experiencing the reef and rainforest of Tropical North Queensland,” she said.
“Last month TTNQ hosted Sam Bloom, the two-time World Para Surfing champion who soared through the rainforest on the giant swing at Skypark Cairns with her sons.
“This publicity builds on the work our operators are doing in the accessibility space, such as Quicksilver Dive becoming the first PADI Adaptive Service Facility to offer scuba training on the Great Barrier Reef to people of all abilities.”
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Originally published as TikTok star Jimmy Jan highlights inclusive travel in Far North
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