Tourism vouchers for fun in Queensland sun

BORDERS may be shut across much of Australia, but the battle for the interstate tourist dollar has begun in earnest.

Queensland holiday providers have laid down the gauntlet, with bonus deals totalling $2m for the first 8000 people to book trips to the state’s North. The tourism drive rewards holiday-makers with $250 vouchers for every booking of $1000 to Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef.

Tourism Tropical North Queensland chief executive Mark Olsen hoped the scheme would help the industry counter Covid-induced losses of $2.5bn and 6000 local jobs.

“With no international visitors for more than 18 months, tourism businesses have been struggling to provide employment to the one in five people whose jobs depend on tourism in the region,” he said.

“The region needs Australians to visit and enjoy these world-class experiences so operators will be ready to welcome back interstate and international visitors, adding more than $3.5bn in export dollars to the Australian economy when the borders open.”

The vouchers are valid for trips until April 20 next year.

People can apply by booking their holiday to Tropical North Queensland through Flight Centre, Viva Holidays or My Queensland.