Queensland tourism bids to stem flood fall-out
Tourism Queensland is pulling out all the stops to help mitigate the effects of ex-tropical cyclone Yasi on the local tourism industry, as businesses begin to clear the path to welcome visitors again.
Speaking today, Tourism Queensland’s international director based in the UK, Jane Nicholson, said Queensland’s tourism industry was experienced in dealing with extreme weather events and had emergency management procedures in place which had ensured the safety of tourists.
“Queensland’s tropical north tourism industry is shining through in the wake of Tropical Cyclone Yasi, a category five system which crossed the Queensland coast on Wednesday 2nd February,” Nicholson said.
“Queensland has a big task on its hands now to recover as quickly as possible and welcome visitors once more. The people who work in Queensland’s tourism industry are resilient, resourceful and well equipped with the tools to bounce back as quickly as possible.
“As air access into important tourist hubs such as Cairns and the Whitsundays returns to normal and tourism businesses re-open their doors, it’s imperative that we let UK visitors know that Queensland is bouncing back and is ready to welcome them.”
Hamilton Island in The Whitsundays has been basking in glorious weather
Nicholson stated that Tourism Queensland will be rolling out the welcome mat with marketing and social media activities inviting visitors back to the state.
She continued: “We are taking action now, using planned marketing activities and funding made available as part of the $10 million Tourism Industry Support Package, to get the message out that most of the state is open for business, affected regions are on the road to recovery and the time is right to invite people to come and visit.
“Taking a Queensland holiday will show the tourism industry that UK visitors are extremely supportive of the plight of the State and will directly help the 222,000 Queenslanders who owe their living to tourism, an industry that is worth $9.2 billion to Queensland’s economy.”
Many of the areas that were in the path of Cyclone Yasi are returning to normal.
Cairns International Airport is fully operational and accommodation in Cairns, Palm Cove, Port Douglas, Cairns Tablelands, Daintree and Cape Tribulation are open and operating as normal.
However, the resort area of Mission Beach on the Cassowary Coast will take some time to recover.
Destinations including the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Fraser Coast, Bundaberg, Gladstone, Agnes Water, 1770, Capricorn Coast, Queensland’s Outback, Southern Downs and Granite Belt and Toowoomba are currently accessible and ready to welcome visitors.