General News
15 March, 2021
Tourism set to ramp up.
Last week Tourism Tropical North Queensland (TTNQ), in conjunction with the Queensland State Government made 15,000 vouchers worth $200.00 each available to Queensland residents to enjoy tourism experiences in Cairns, The Great Barrier Reef and The Tablelands.
Last week Tourism Tropical North Queensland (TTNQ), in conjunction with the Queensland State Government made 15,000 vouchers worth $200.00 each available to Queensland residents to enjoy tourism experiences in Cairns, The Great Barrier Reef and The Tablelands. The vouchers can be used to claim up to 50 per cent off any eligible tourism experience booked, up to a maximum of $200.00.
The campaign aims to encourage more Queenslanders to travel to Far North Queensland and extend their stay and get out and experience The Far North.
The campaign runs from 15 March to 25 June 2021 and the $200 voucher will be available to use at participating tourism-based businesses who have registered their details with the government.
One of those businesses is the Crystal cave in Atherton, Co-owner Ghis Gallo said they registered because they want to be part of the industry.
“We are part of the North Queensland tourism industry and we like to be recognised as part of that,” Ghis said.
Compared to Cairns, Ghis believes Atherton and the Tablelands has seen an upturn in tourism numbers.
“We haven’t had a downturn at all in fact our number are up. More people are now travelling within Queensland,” she said.
“Unlike Cairns, we have always targeted the domestic market and now we have also scored the travellers who used to go overseas and our now discovering their own state.
“We have scored all the locals who have not been able to leave the state, while Cairns has been going down in visitor numbers the Tablelands has seen their numbers rising."
Ghis said that Crystal Caves was a unique tourist attraction for the Tablelands.
“We have one of the best crystal collections in Australia, people can touch, they can get up close and personal and visitors can do it all in their own time, it’s very hands-on and educational,” she said.
“If people have received a $200 voucher from the government, they can then use that to receive half price entry into our cave.”
Group Director of Sales and Marketing of Hartley's Crocodile Adventures, Kuranda Koala Gardens and Birdworld in Kuranda, Angela Freeman said that the new measures were just in time.
“We are hoping that the new Cairns vouchers will help lengthen the stay of people in the region, we are also hoping it will push people to do more exploration of Kuranda and the Tablelands,” she said.
“We hope that the vouchers give people extra money to spend and stay on the Tablelands.
“It’s a great campaign that has been rolled out really well and we as a business can take ownership of it and provide our own packages.
“It also reinforces that our businesses are COVID safe.”
Angela also said the discounted flights that the federal government recently announced was even better news.
“These flights will be a godsend,” she said.
“I think these flights will enable people to look at doing things like family reunions or Far North weddings.
“We will get back normal leisure tourism but also hopefully big picture tourism as well.”
