A robust and honest debate

STATE Tourism Minister Kate Jones’ roundtable next week will put the region’s mega industry centrestage — where it should be.

It has been a school of hard knocks for tourism over the Christmas period due largely to a very wet summer and a geographical ignorance about Townsville’s proximity to Cairns. How anyone could get the two mixed up is beyond me but …

The fact is though, the eye has come off the ball on tourism and a unpalatable mix of ingredients is pointing to an underdone cake if we don’t do something about it now.

Global and domestic economic uncertainty and divided opinions threaten to strike damaging blows.

The Cairns Post, in partnership with Tourism Tropical North Queensland, last week launched a major campaign — Tourism, It’s Priceless — in a bid to celebrate and champion this most important of sectors.

The reaction has been stunning and the response immediate.

The Cairns Post has identified three key areas that are important to growing visitor numbers — increased funding for destination marketing, a clear and simple marketing message and aviation attraction.

Of course, there are many other things that must be done to products and services here to convince fickle visitors to return.

Ms Jones has responded quickly to our concerns and will chair the special roundtable with major stakeholders asked to sit. We sincerely hope the outcome will be as Ms Jones hopes it will be — getting everyone on the same page.

It can’t just be a talkfest but rather robust and honest discussion. And then let there be a course of action. Editor Jennifer Spilsbury