Industry concern around targets

KEY tourism figures in Cairns are concerned the Far North could miss out on a golden opportunity to entice international visitors as other states aggressively target overseas travel markets.

With Queensland’s border still seven weeks from reopening to the rest of the country and with a 90 per cent vaccination threshold for international tourists, there are fears Cairns could be left in the wake of New South Wales and Victoria as a post-Covid destination.

Cairns Airport boss Richard Barker said he was fearful the region could miss a travel boom without aviation support from the Queensland Government and high vaccination rates, adding the state could be “months behind” others.

“We think the 90 per cent threshold for international is a high benchmark given other states are opening to international travel at 80 per cent,” he said.

“That may mean Queensland is some months behind in attracting international flights and visitors.

“Our return as an airport and a region hinges on vaccination rates.”

It comes as the NSW government forked out $60m – matched by $60 million from Sydney Airport – to attract international airline routes, and other states are tipped to follow.

To play their part with the targets, Cairns Airport has even opened a pop-up clinic at the domestic terminal.

Advance Cairns CEO Paul Sparshott said NSW and Victoria had taken the lead with plans to reopen to international travel.

“We might miss out if we don’t move quickly,” he said.

“It’s a super competitive world and they have the edge at the moment, there is absolutely no doubt about that.”

“Ninety per cent is a high bar to get and what happens if we don’t make it?

“I think we need to be flexible and readjust if needed, and have a plan B.”

Reef giant Quicksilver’s manager director, Tony Baker, said overseas travellers were “probably more important to our destination than anywhere in Australia”, accounting for more than 50 per cent of tourism and attraction bookings.

“They provide at least half of all bookings because they are coming here for once-in-a lifetime trips,” he said.

“But we are concerned about tomorrow let alone December or January.

“We are in a whole new environment, but I do think it’s fantastic we have a date and we can focus on welcoming NSW and Victorian visitors back.”

It comes as Far Northerners are preparing to snap up cheap overseas flights from Jetstar, who are opening routes to Japan in February and Bali in April.