Queensland floods cost $60m in lost holiday bookings

Tourism operators in far north Queensland are pleading with holiday-makers not to abandon the region following last weekend’s record flood.

Tourism operators in far north Queensland are pleading with holiday-makers not to abandon the region as cancellations skyrocket following last weekend’s record flood.

Tourism Tropical North Queensland CEO Mark Olsen told news.com.au that “it was vital that people do not cancel existing bookings as almost all accommodation was open and unaffected by the impacts of the flooding”.

Tourism Tropical North Queensland CEO Mark Olsen is pleading with holiday-makers not to abandon the region. Picture: Bronwyn Farr.

He said that Captain Cook Highway has reopened between Palm Cove and Cairns, along with the Kuranda Range Road and the Gillies Highway.

While the coastal road between Cairns and Port Douglas remains closed, he said the inland road to Port Douglas is expected to reopen by the weekend and in the meantime, “there are two boat services a day between Cairns and Port Douglas”.

Cancelled holidays have already cost the region $60 million in lost revenue and Mr Olsen said operators are “likely to lose $125 million over December and January” – a figure which represents 15 to 20 per cent of their total takings over those months.

“We are very concerned about the lack of bookings that would normally be coming in now for January and the level of cancellations that we are seeing for January,” Mr Olsen told news.com.au.

The Barron River in Cairns reached a record flood peak. Picture: Brendan Radke

He added that “operators rely on summer school holiday visitation to get through the quieter months in February and March”.

And it is not just accommodation providers who are being affected.

Mr Olsen said that many tourist attractions in the region remain open, with Great Barrier Reef boat tours from the Reef Fleet Terminal in Cairns and the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway reopening today.

“Our community is pulling together with emergency service providers to help the people who have been impacted by flooding, but many of these people are small business owners or employees in the tourism industry who depend on visitors for their income,” he said.

Mr Olsen said holiday-makers worried about their travel plans should first contact their accommodation provider to check they are open, and inquire about any access problems, rather than automatically seeking to cancel.

“Please continue with your plans for a summer holiday in the tropics.”

The record flood closed Cairns Airport, which has since reopened. Picture: Hinterland Aviation.

The flooding followed ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper, which made landfall at about 3pm last Wednesday, December 13, south of Wujal Wujal near Cape Tribulation.

The floods, dubbed the highest since records began more than a century ago by a regional flood expert caused travel chaos with roads disintegrating.

Cairns Airport was also closed for two days, but reopened to flights on Tuesday.

Originally published as Queensland floods cost $60m in lost holiday bookings