Sports tourism is gold for FNQ

SPORTS tourism is exactly the kind of market we should be targeting in Far North Queensland, where the views are impeccable and the winter climate is second to none.

The Great Barrier Reef Masters Games has been a roaring success with a record turnout of more than 2000 athletes.

We can safely bet a fair number of those sporting veterans were ready to reach into their pockets to fund a well-deserved beer and meal during their stay.

The Masters Games is a beauty, but in the scheme of things its $1 million estimated economic injection is a drop in the ocean compared to some of the other big events coming the Far North’s way.

The Ironman Asia-Pacific Championship comes to Cairns next month with about 6000 athletes anticipated to bring $10 million to the region.

Then we have Targa Australia with about a $2.5 million spend.

Add in last week’s World Rafting Championships in Tully and the Red Bull Defiance endurance race at Mission Beach in August, and we have a suite of sporting events expected to notch up a $20 million spend. That is nothing to be scoffed at. The loss of Cathay Pacific’s direct flights to Cairns and softening international tourism numbers in general are of grave concern for Far North Queensland, but it is important not to lose focus on those things we do well.

Sports tourism is an important cog in the machine as a whole, and we need to keep working hard to ensure we can rely on these events year in, year out.

There are plenty of other places that would love to be in our position. Chris Calcino chris.calcino@news.com.au