TOURISM UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT
Accessible tourism options like blind snorkelling - and winning back the international tourism market will be front and centre at the upcoming North Queensland Tourism Conference.
Tourism Tropical North Queensland chief executive Mark Olsen said Cairns has been a leader in providing accessible tourism for a long time.
One in five tourists has some kind of physical or mental challenge, he said, and the annual North Queensland Tourism Conference was taking accessible tourism as one of its themes this year.
The other theme is international recovery.
The conference on May 31 will bring speakers with extensive backgrounds in tourism, government, airlines and more to Cairns.
And there’s already a jampacked calendar of events with an international outlook this year, such as Cannes in Cairns, the Third International Indigenous Health and Wellbeing
Conference, and G’Day Australia, bringing international travel agents to Cairns.
Those with accessibility needs might have a physical disability, such as a visual impairment or reduced mobility requiring a wheelchair or frame, or a mental health challenge, such as agoraphobia (fear of open spaces).
“We have just created the new accessible tourism hub, a website that offers access and inclusive experiences in the region,” Mr Olsen said.
“There are mental health trips to the Great Barrier Reef, blind snorkelling, and guided experiences through the canopy of the Skyrail in an individual canopy glider.
“What it means is visitors who are concerned if they have an access or inclusivity challenge, when they are planning their holidays they are looking and can find for an inclusive experience for everyone to enjoy.”
He said it wass an exciting area to work in as it was a “broad church”.
“It’s always been an inclusive experience here. It’s in the DNA of Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef,” Mr Olsen said.
International recovery is the other strand to this year’s conference.
Pre-Covid, Cairns enjoyed about 28,000 international inbound passenger seats a week.
In 2021, that dropped to an average of 500.
In 2022, the figure climbed to 5000, and the number today is around 13,000.
“We’re at about 50 per cent of total 2019 visitor numbers,” Mr Olsen said.
He says three important factors are coming into play to help lift visitor numbers here.
The first is a partnership between Tropical Tourism North Queensland and Cairns Airport, securing $100m from the Queensland government’s Attracting Aviation Investment Fund, to be matched by funding from the airport.
The second is a tranche of funding TTNQ has just received.
“As of Friday night, we have a signed an agreement for a $15m recovery fund,” Mr Olsen said.
“It has worked its way through multiple budgets, and TTNQ has received the funding, the only region in Australia to receive it.”
And the third factor working in the region’s favour is investment – with the support of the council – in six international offices, which are out promoting Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef around the world.