Community & Business
19 February, 2026
Local tourism operators urged to participate
TOURISM operators from throughout Mareeba Shire will gather at Skyrail Terminal in Kuranda next week for Mareeba Shire Local Tourism Operators’ quarterly meeting and updates.
Mareeba Shire LTO chair and Deputy Mayor Cr Lenore Wyatt said the meeting next Thursday between 4pm-5pm, would be an informative occasion which would bring together local tourism operators, traders, and key tourism partners to share insights and prepare for the upcoming Skyrail upgrade.
“This is a valuable opportunity for those attending to stay informed, ask questions, and ensure local tourism businesses are ready for what’s ahead,” Cr Wyatt said.
“Whether you are a long-standing operator or new to the Kuranda or Mareeba Shire tourism scene, this event is designed to keep the local community connected and supported.”
Cr Wyatt added that it was important that tourism interests across Mareeba Shire connected with fellow operators to share plans, ideas, and strategies for navigating the upcoming changes while networking in a relaxed and welcoming environment.
Meanwhile, Tourism Tropical North Queensland (TTNQ) is developing a region-wide celebration of local food and drink experiences to showcase the incredible chefs, producers, and agritourism stories that make Tropical North Queensland unique.
Tasting the Tropics in April will be an opportunity to showcase Tropical North Queensland’s produce and dining experiences, encourage locals and visitors from neighbouring regions to enjoy food experiences throughout the month, and demonstrate what a strong food and drink story our destination has.
A name and logo are being developed, with a public launch expected soon, aimed at getting the community excited and encourage visitation to food events.
TTNQ is gauging interest from those involved in the food and drink industry with the plan to create a legacy that enhances our destination’s food and drink story with an ongoing annual food month that will grow each year.
The concept is not a single event, but a series of events throughout the region which could be as simple as a restaurant creating a dish celebrating a local ingredient in season that month and offering it to diners as a special.
It will be an opportunity for businesses to host food events – for example, a hotel may have a weekend of themed in-dining and develop accommodation packages to support visitation.
Each event would be managed by the business hosting it.
TTNQ is calling on local operators across dining, accommodation, events, agritourism and food businesses to be part of this great new initiative celebrating the region’s vibrant food story.
It is not necessary that the business involved be members of TTNQ or their Local Tourism Organisation.
TTNQ will be publicising food activities throughout the region to media and on the group’s destination website.
Any local tourism operator planning a food event for April, is encouraged to inform TTNQ and fill in the expression of interest data on the website.
