HOT SPOT AFTER ISO

CAIRNS and Port Douglas are two of the most sought-after locations for a post-isolation thaw-out.

Booking.com has released its top 10 most wishlisted destinations in Australia and Queensland. On the state list, Cairns and Port Douglas ranked third and fourth, behind the Gold Coast and Brisbane.

Nationally, Cairns was ranked No 7 and Port Douglas made the cut at 10, behind Canberra and Hunter Valley wine region Pokolbin.

“Booking.com delved into the thousands of local travel wishlists created by travellers, revealing of the top 50 wishlisted destinations in the country, over a third are in Queensland,” a Booking.com spokesman said.

The figures were gleaned by comparing wishlist data between March and April and the same period last year.

Tourism Port Douglas and Daintree executive officer Tara Bennett said the “great news” was confirmation that travel marketing was on the right track. “We have been trying to target people who were in the ‘dreaming phase’ while they were in isolation,’’ Ms Bennett said.

“It is chess, a long-term strategy to position yourself in the right place and the right time. Because Victoria is our biggest market, COVID has thrown a spanner in the works, but we have seen a welcome influx of NSW and Queensland travellers.”

Tourism Tropical North Queensland chief Mark Olsen said his group had ramped up domestic marketing activities in Queensland and interstate following the opening of borders. “The region has taken its first step to recovery with intrastate travel bringing visitors during the school holidays and 23,000 passengers travelling through the domestic terminal this week,” Mr Olsen said.