AusLeisure

The Australian Government’s $15 million International Tourism Recovery Program has boosted a resurgence in international visitors to Tropical North Queensland. The program has delivered 28 campaigns so far, generating bookings in the last financial year for 20,000 Chinese visitors, who it is estimated will inject $37 million into the local economy.

The second year of the $15 million program, which rolled out 1st July 2024, is expected to create even stronger demand for the world-class tourism experiences in the sunshine state's tropical north, including the Great Barrier Reef.

The return of Cathay Pacific flights between Hong Kong and Cairns from December through to March is projected to bring in up to 13,000 additional international visitors, who are projected to collectively spend an estimated $20 million in the region.

China was the region's largest international market before the pandemic, accounting for one in four international visitors and injecting more than $200 million a year into the regional economy.

Tropical North Queensland is one of Australia's tourism regions that is most economically dependent on international visitation.

The International Tourism Recovery Grant Program is providing Tourism Tropical North Queensland (TTNQ) with grants worth up to a total of $15 million over three years, helping to bring more international visitors to Tropical North Queensland.

Mark Olsen, Chief Executive Tourism Tropical North Queensland noted "the support from the International Tourism Recovery Program has given the region a boost when it needed it most, as our international numbers have been slower to recover than the capital cities.

"China was our region's single biggest international market in 2019, one in three Chinese visitors to Queensland came to see Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef. Rebuilding demand from China is vital with Cathay Pacific returning in December.

"The 28 trade campaigns have been supported by a coordinated approach, with a publicity push generating over $16.5 million. Roadshows are bringing our operators back into China as a region - bringing back key trade partners to experience Tropical North Queensland and all the great experiences here first-hand."

Related Articles

3rd September 2024 - New funding and marketing campaign for Far North Queensland tourism businesses

5th April 2024 - Big Red Group completes acquisition of Experience Oz North Queensland

22nd February 2024 - $10 million grants for Far North Queensland tourism operators to enhance Infrastructure Resilience

19th February 2024 - Tourism Tropical North Queensland welcomes visitors back to the Daintree

2nd February 2024 - Big Red Group supports North Queensland tourism recovery

9th January 2024 - Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort becomes first Sustainable Tourism Certified resort in North Queensland

5th January 2024 - Far North Queensland tourism hopes for boost with discounted flights and accommodation deals

28th October 2023 - Tropical North Queensland celebrates the best of tourism

19th October 2023 - John O’Sullivan named Tourism Tropical North Queensland Chair

5th October 2023 - Tourism Tropical North Queensland announces key partnerships and events appointment

4th August 2023 - Construction begins on Far North Queensland’s Wangetti Trail

21st February 2023 - Tropical North Queensland continues to promote tourism accessibility

14th October 2022 - Tropical North Queensland launches online hub for accessible tourism

31st March 2022 - Record spending by visitors to Tropical North Queensland

22nd March 2022 - Federal Government announces $60 million in new visitor economy funding with $15 million for Tourism Tropical North Queensland

---

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.