Budgetary snub hurts the region

THE Far North’s tourism industry has been “snubbed” by the Federal Government in this week’s budget, according to local leaders.

The State Government announced funding for the first section of the Wangetti Trail last month, which they had hoped would be matched by the Federal Government.

But local state MPs said the region had been completely ignored.

It comes after the Far North had a difficult start to the year with domestic and international economic uncertainties expected to have a continuing impact.

“At a time when our tourism industry has been doing it tough, we’ve seen absolutely no funding for new infrastructure or marketing in Far North Queensland,” Cairns MP Michael Healy said.

“The Federal Government’s budget is a slap in the face to the Cairns tourism industry.”

It comes as the latest international visitor data was released showing there had been a 2.7 per cent drop in tourist numbers to the Far North with 863,000 people visiting the region during 2018.

There was also a 5 per cent decline in the holiday market, but an increase in those visiting friends and relatives (21.3 per cent) and business travellers (54.3 per cent).

Tourism Tropical North Queensland chief executive officer Pip Close said visitation was down slightly, but spending was up which was in line with the shift to high-value travellers.

“Visitation was stable from the United States and Japan with increases from New Zealand and Canada,” Ms Close said.

“A drop from China is in line with the trend for Queensland, while declines from the United Kingdom and Germany reflect the unstable economic climate in Europe.”

Brisbane, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast and Mackay had increases in visitor numbers, while all other regions recorded decreases.

Cook MP Cynthia Lui said the Wangetti Trail was the single most important tourism project the Federal Government could have funded in the region.

“The Wangetti Trail has the potential to create 150 jobs in the Far North in years to come.

“It’s also tipped to pump as much as $300 million back into the Cairns tourism economy,” she said.

“But instead of investing in our tourism industry to create sustainable jobs in Far North Queensland, Warren Entsch and Scott Morrison have let locals down by delivering a budget that’s focused on Sydney and Melbourne.”

Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch has previously said he would consider the proposal and it is understood the Federal Government has been briefed on it, but there was no funding in this week’s budget.

Works are expected to begin on the first stage between Port Douglas and Mowbray in September.