IT’S FINE UP HERE
Easter bookings solid despite cyclone concern
IF ANYTHING DEBBIE HAS BEEN GOOD FOR US BECAUSE MORE PEOPLE WERE COMING INTO TOWN FROM THE WHITSUNDAYS BEFORE THE CYCLONE ARRIVED TO ESCAPE IT BUSINESS OWNER SCOTT ZIMMERLE
OUR tourism industry is putting its prettiest face forward in an aggressive statewide push to tell the rest of the country the Tropical North is open for business despite the effects of Cyclone Debbie being felt 600km away.
Social media is being used to send positive messages and show off our blue skies to potential visitors dismayed by the level of destruction from Debbie along a major stretch of Queensland’s east coast.
Tourism Tropical North Queensland chief executive Alex de Waal said his team was working with Tourism and Events Queensland to shoot live videos on Facebook and share images across their Facebook and Instagram pages showing the Far North’s untouched state.
“TTNQ and our operators are talking to the media and sharing live social media posts of our beautiful sunny weather wherever possible to show people thinking of holidaying in our region,” he said.
“We also need to emphasise just how big Queensland is and that we are 600km north of the area impacted.”
Business owner Scott Zimmerle said he had seen more foot traffic in his ice-cream shop, Nitrolato, since backpackers were pushed north to Cairns by the ex-tropical cyclone.
“If anything Debbie has been good for us because more people were coming into town from the Whitsundays before the cyclone arrived to escape it,” he said.
“I’m aware of people thinking Cairns was hit too, but I think possibly it might have equalled out.
“On one hand Cairns has suffered a bit of people cancelling their trips. On the other hand people are coming up from the Whitsundays to escape the cyclone, so what you lose in one hand you gain with the other.”
Pro Dive Cairns dive instructor Perry Ross said Cairns was the best place for visitors to see the Great Barrier Reef at the moment.
“We’re lucky enough here in Cairns. At least in the reefs directly out from Cairns, that it has not really been damaged,” he said.
“Cyclones are normal. That’s the environment keeping everything in check with the reefs.
“They obviously have a great effect on the Reef, but that’s something which needs to happen. It’s nature’s way of keeping everything in tune with the warming at the moment and the bleaching of the Reef.”
Mr de Waal said he was positive that local overnight visitor numbers would reach regular rates once the Easter school holidays kicked off.
“We have reasonable bookings for next week, but many travellers could be waiting to know what the weather will be like before they book for next week,” he said. “We anticipate bookings will increase during the school holidays.”