FNQ’S FIGHT BACK PLAN
Premier in Cairns to discuss post-COVID help for tourism
PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk has been urged to think of frontline tourism operators when visiting Cairns to discuss the industry’s future.
Ms Palaszczuk and Cairns MP Michael Healy will meet Far North tourism representatives on Wednesday to discuss the industry’s economic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic.
The looming end to JobKeeper and the tourism industry’s future if the federal government does not extend the support package is worrying operators.
Sailaway Port Douglas owner Steve Edmondson said he was optimistic about the talks but hoped smaller businesses most at risk would be able to have their say.
Ms Palaszczuk said her visit to Cairns would focus on getting feedback from the tourism industry to ensure operators kept getting the support they needed to recover.
“Over the last 12 months, we’ve worked closely with operators to deliver millions of dollars’ worth of support for the local tourism sector,” she said. “Thanks to the way locals have responded to this health crisis, we’ve also seen restrictions start to ease.”
Sailaway Port Douglas owner Steve Edmondson, who hadn’t been invited to the meeting, said he was optimistic to hear about the Premier’s visit, but hoped smaller businesses most at risk would be able to have their say.
“They need to understand that the business owners are the ones committed to employing people and there needs to be some sort of lifeline to keep them in the game until a vaccine rollout and confidence resumes,” he said.
“Tourism is a huge connector to the rest of the economy.
“Even as a small business, we put back $3.5m in the local economy a year.
“I’m glad they’re starting a conversation and if there’s good intent on how to direct assistance, then bring it on.”
Over the last 12 months, the Palaszczuk government has committed more than $64m to support tourism businesses in Far North Queensland to recover from COVID-19.
Ms Palaszczuk said the support included $10.6m in small business grants to enable operators to adapt and sustain their operations, a $6.5m investment into tourism infrastructure and more than $18.4m in job support loans to protect local jobs.
Mr Healy said he had been in constant contact with tourism operators, carrying their message.
He said he understood the economic importance of the tourism industry to the Far Northern economy.
“Our community and our economy relies on a strong tourism industry,” Mr Healy said.
“That’s why I’ve invited the Premier back to Cairns to follow up with operators.
“This government has invested more in rebuilding the tourism industry than any other state government in Australia because we recognise how important it is to support tourism jobs.”
A NEW tour drop-in centre in the Cairns CBD is forging a path to sustainable tourism.
The Allbout Cairns centre at 58 Grafton St came about after Chelsea Handley of Barefoot Tours and Barry “Baz” Goes of Cairns Canyoning met at a virtual tourism forum during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Operators up and down the east coast of Australia were going through the same problems,” Mr Goes said.
“Myself and Chelsea were the only ones in Cairns and we started chatting about joining forces.”
The tourism co-operative focuses on micro businesses and sustainable tourism.
The concept is not a new one globally. Since 2003, the UK’s Travel Foundation charity has been fostering sustainable travel in the Caribbean and Europe.
Mr Goes said the co-op would reduce the industry’s carbon footprint.
“We can reduce overhead costs by doing it together,” he said. “For guests, this is a central meeting point, like the Reef Fleet Terminal.
“We want this to be for land-based operators.”
The new enterprise, registered as a charity, will organise community enrichment events facilitated by members.
“Part of their contracts would be to get involved in these events, we’d go out and put the tours on,” Ms Handley said. “We will do the organisation but we need their participation.
“We are looking at getting 30 operators and we’ll be putting on one event per month.”
She said the central location would encourage visitors to walk into the CBD and meet other tourism operators.
“If every operator is going around picking up their own people it would add to their carbon footprint,” Ms Handley said.
More businesses are expected to be brought into the co-operative after the first month.
“The response has been great. Operators are realising the importance of putting themselves out there as a united group,” she said. “We would like to advocate in the future, if this can work really well we can open them down the east coast.
“I think this will be really good for operators to create a sustainable tourism community.
“There is so much to offer, we have to create a positive atmosphere and get involved together.”
Mr Goes said the response had been “fantastic”.
One or two people each day have been stopping to chat about it,.he said