A level playing field

THE tourism industry of the Far North has been doing it hard these last couple of years and for a multitude of reasons.

Some - weather, climatic conditions we can’t do much about but try and ride it out. However, the region has been way behind the eight ball for over a decade when it comes to competing with other destination on marketing budgets.

In the 90s TTNQ was the powerhouse of tourism in Australia on both a domestic and global front. Little by little we have seen our position erode as other destinations, especially, South Australia, Victoria and now Tasmania become the new leading lights of Australian tourism.

Their state governments have seen the returns from tourism and fund their organisations accordingly. On a regional level, many regional tourism organisations impose a bed tax or a visitor levy.

Has this affected visitation? Not by one person. Conversely the additional funding has attracted thousands more visitors, sometimes at the expense of Cairns. I applaud Bob Manning for finally having the conviction to look at a visitor levy but now is not the time to be shy.

Not $1, try $3 or $4. It will not deter a single visitor and for the first time this millennium, it will give our region the muscle to go out into markets, both international and domestic, and reclaim our rightful mantle as a jewel in the Australian tourism crown.

Once we get this right locally, we can sit down with the State Government and discuss the true value of tourism to this state and in return its increased financial support. Robbie Bastion, Trinity Beach