SPORTING CHANCE

Far North counts on win with events tipped to bring in $20m

THE Far North’s tourism industry is off and running with a calendar of sporting events set to pump $20 million into the economy.

Following the weekend’s succesful Great Barrier Reef Masters Games, the region is preparing for next month’s Ironman which is tipped to be worth $10 million.

Tourism Minister Kate Jones said the calendar of events, including the return of Targa Great Barrier Reef in August, generated a combined $20 million for the region.

“This is a huge boost for the local tourism industry,” she said. “We invest in major events because we know they attract visitors and support local jobs.”

FLASH cars, elite Ironmen and women, endurance athletes and Masters competitors are about to give the struggling Far North tourism industry a healthy kickstart.

A series of sports events are set to tip $20 million into the region’s economy after a tough start to the year. A record of more than 2000 athletes and their families took part in the fourth Great Barrier Reef Masters Games at the weekend, which could single-handedly bring more than $1 million to the city.

Ironman will again prove the biggest money spinner, with about 6000 athletes spending an estimated $10 million in the region, while the second Targa Australia will rev through the city in late August and is expected to top its $2.5 million spend from last year. New to the calendar were last week’s World Rafting Championships in Tully and the Red Bull Defiance endurance race at Mission Beach in August.

“Combined these events will generate around $20 million for the Far North,” Tourism Minister Kate Jones said.

“This is a huge boost for the local tourism industry.

“We invest in major events because we know they attract visitors and support local jobs.

“That’s why we’re working hard to grow Tropical North Queensland’s major events portfolio.”

Cairns MP Michael Healy said he welcomed the boost.

“Tourism businesses have done it tough in Cairns recently,” he said. “But we know that major events are crucial to growing our tourism industry.”

Last year’s Ironman winner Braden Currie has been announced as ambassador for this year’s race, which again doubles as the Asia Pacific Championship. He said Cairns was the only place where he stayed afterwards to enjoy the region with his family.

“I really feel as though it’s a destination that people don’t necessarily think to go, but it’s one of my favourite places in Australia,” he said.

“I think having an event such as the Ironman Asia Pacific champs puts Cairns in the spotlight and gives it huge recognition on a global scale of just how incredible the destination really is.

“The main reason (we stay) is I know my family will really enjoy their time there and I am looking forward to showing them all the things I love about the area.”

Cairns Mayor Bob Manning, who laced up the football boots in the Masters rugby league, said the events were just what the city needed.

“(Masters) is just great for the community. And Ironman … proves itself time and again.”