Dear Queensland, you owe it to all of us to travel

With most of Australia locked out from the Sunshine State, this is why Queenslanders need to start spending big for the rest of us.

The Sunshine State needs to open their calendars – and wallets – to support its own tourism industry so it’s there for the rest of us to enjoy.

At the beginning of the year I took a trip to Cairns and Port Douglas in Far North Queensland. Both towns were their usual laid-back, tropical selves; with Port Douglas’ whitewashed Queenslanders and swaying palm trees as pretty as ever, and the sparkling new hotels in Cairns, such as the supercool Crystalbrook Riley, all sharp lines and party pools.

But at the same time, things weren’t quite right.

It’s not that they were ghost towns exactly but there was an unmistakeable, underlying air of quiet panic. These two towns rely heavily on international tourism, and they’re also out of the way for domestic tourists.

The Sunshine State needs to open their wallets

Time for Queensland to let us holiday

They suffer from the tyranny of distance even for other Queenslanders: Cairns is a five-hour drive from its nearest big city neighbour, Townsville, and a whopping 1800km from Brisbane. So when flights are scarce, or Covid-shy travellers are too nervous to venture far from home, these are the towns that suffer first.

Now that Queensland’s borders are closed to NSW and Victoria, Australia is relying on Queenslanders themselves to save their own state. We want you to be there for us to visit when you’ll let us in, Queensland (in fact a recent survey by Skyscanner said Cairns was the number one destination Australians want to visit).

But that means you’re going to have to do the heavy lifting of keeping your tourism industry going in the interim so it’s there for all the rest of Australia – and the rest of the world – to enjoy when this is over.

Australia is relying on Queenslanders themselves to save their own state.

This week, Queensland Tourism launched a genius initiative to give Queenslanders a chance to explore their own state for next to nothing. The ‘Days Like This’ campaign – and yes it comes with a stirring ad that will make you cry – sees a new deal pop up every day that allows Queenslanders to experience some of the best attractions their state has to offer for next to nothing (some offers are as low as $1).

The deals are announced at 9am Monday to Thursday and you have to be quick; the first few sold out in under 10 minutes. Friday-Sunday are prize giveaways for money can’t buy experiences (I’ve heard rumours that there’s a getaway at a private Queensland island coming up soon). If you’re not on board already, get on it.

There’s little chance Victoria and NSW will be able to holiday in Queensland anytime soon. Picture: Dan Peled/NCA NewsWire

Throughout most of the pandemic Queenslanders have excelled at supporting their own state. “They’ve been really good. We’ve seen Queensland travel within Queensland more than ever before and they’re spending more than ever before,” said a spokesperson from Tourism and Events Queensland.

But the lockdowns in June shook travellers’ confidence, and flights and bookings dropped off. People in the populous southeast seem to be travelling – cautiously – close to home, but the urge to get on a plane and fly north or inland may be wavering.

Enough wavering, Queensland. You’re out of lockdown. Most of your tour operators will reschedule your bookings if you’re unable to take them. Your state needs you. Book. Fly. Spend.

We love you Queensland and we want your tourism industry to roar back to life, stronger than ever. But unless you snap into action, Queensland’s most beloved holiday destinations could be beautiful one day, gone the next.

This article originally appeared on Escape and was reproduced with permission