MAKE IT HAPPEN
Aboud calls for Mid-Eastern flights to bring tourists
DEVELOPER Ghassan Aboud has called for more to be done in attracting a Middle Eastern airline to Cairns. He expressed his disappointment before revealing updated plans for his $200m development at Port Douglas.
THE man responsible for the city’s latest premier hotel has taken a potshot at state and local governments’ efforts to entice new air routes from Middle East carriers.
Syrian billionaire and Crystalbrook Collection owner Ghassan Aboud expressed dismay at the difference between promises given and results delivered in the business of luring new airlines to the Far North.
“Four years ago, I met with the Premier and the council was with us … and I said it’s your job to sell the country, it’s not our job, but unfortunately … we get a lot of promises but we see nothing,” he said at a Q&A convened at his newlyopened Riley Hotel yesterday.
“They promise to bring more airlines and promise too to bring business opportunity but until now we don’t see it.”
In October 2018, a FNQ delegation including Cairns Mayor Bob Manning and Cairns Airport officials travelled to the Middle East to lobby airlines for regular direct flights to Cairns.
“I have tried to support it but this is a local council job. It’s our job to build hotels and their job to sell it and make agreements for flights with other (levels of) government,” Mr Aboud said.
Crystalbrook CEO Mark Davie said Mr Aboud had been part of that delegation and that the business of lobbying airlines was still a work in progress.
“Those discussions are ongoing but they are discussions involved with the tourism bodies and the airport and the airline to make the right business case for it,” he said.
Tourism Minister Kate Jones responded to Mr Aboud’s criticism by stating “when it comes to securing new flights, we’ve got the runs on the board”.
“The Middle East is one of the fastest growing tourism markets in the world,” she said.
“That’s why we’re in discussions with airlines with a strong presence in the Middle East regarding new direct flights to key tourism destinations like Tropical North Queensland.”
Tourism Tropical North Queensland chief executive Pip Close said Middle Eastern connections would bring in more visitors.
“Direct flights from the Middle East would provide better access to Cairns from Europe which helps the region grow that market,” Ms Close said.
Mr Aboud also reiterated his desire for a dedicated CBD entertainment precinct but made it clear it was council’s responsibility to fund the project.
The waterfront pedestrian zone between Shields and Aplin sts has been planned by Cairns Regional Council for many years but Mr Aboud suggested local government needed to be more proactive in their approach, believing the company had contributed enough to the precinct’s development.
“I am known for supporting the community, I promise you I will also try and support the community here but nothing for this project,” he said.
The Syrian billionaire would not be drawn on Crystalbrook’s plans for their development of a site in Grafton St.
He said there were two or three options on the drawing board for the Grafton St CBD development but the final plans had not been decided.
The businessman indicated wet weather could push back the opening of the Flynn and Bailey hotels and he was impressed at how the two restaurants had been trading at Riley since opening in November.
The Dubai-based Syrian investor is in town for four days, during which time he will meet with Mayor Manning and tourism stakeholders, including Queensland Tourism Industry Council CEO Daniel Gschwind.