Supporting Cairns and Port Douglas tourism business

• The Hon Warren Dec MP, member for Leichhardt

The Morrison government is consulting the Cairns and Port Douglas tourism companies to ensure the long-term viability of the Far North Queensland tourism industry.

The Secretary of Commerce, Tourism and Investment Dan Tehan is in Far North Queensland to meet with tourism companies, small businesses and representatives of the local industry.

Mr. Tehan and Federal Leichhardt MP Warren Ent will meet with representatives from the Cairns and Port Douglas tourism companies, marine park tourism and hospitality operators, Advance Cairns stakeholders and the Cairns Chamber of Commerce.

“I want to listen to local tour operators and understand how the closing of state borders and the loss of international tourists are affecting them,” Tehan said.

“The Morrison government is working with the tourism sector not just in Far North Queensland but across Australia on a post-jobkeeper tourism plan.

“We’ve already launched a $ 5 million advertising flash to encourage Australians to book domestic vacations this year to support local jobs and businesses.

“Our government has also supported the tourism industry with access to JobKeeper and the $ 1 billion COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Fund.

“We’re donating $ 8 million to build the Wangetti Trail from the Mowbray River to Palm Cove. This includes building hiking trails, upgrading bridges, upgrading campsites and related infrastructure to make it a major tourist attraction.

“The data shows that people still want to go on vacation, but they are more cautious than ever. Border restrictions are a bigger problem today than COVID-19 for Australians planning a vacation.

“The reopening of the Queensland-NSW border will allow more tourists to return to Far North Queensland. Our government is working with states and territories to pursue a unified approach to border closings and hotspots that gives tourist operators and Australians the security of planning their next vacation. “

Mr Dec said domestic tourism is worth $ 100 billion to the Australian economy and more than $ 2.2 billion annually to the Cairns and Port Douglas economies.

He said Cairns and Port Douglas had not a tourism problem but a trust problem due to rapid border closings.

“Given Australia’s strong response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we want tourist destinations such as Cairns and Port Douglas to be ready for an influx of visitors when international travel resumes after the successful launch of a vaccine,” said Decision.

“In the meantime, we want Australians to have the confidence to spend their next vacation here in Far North Queensland to support local businesses and local jobs.

“The Morrison government has provided $ 2.2 million through the Zoos and Aquariums Grants program to tourism businesses in Far North Queensland, including the Cairns Zoom and Wildlife Dome, the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary and the Rainforestation National Park.

“If you are a tourism company that exhibits animals, I highly recommend that you check your eligibility for this scholarship program and apply for funding.

“Tourism is the lifeblood of Cairns and Far North Queensland, and I work on behalf of everyone in Leichhardt to support our tourism businesses and workers.”

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