Trifecta to lure tourism investor

NICK DALTON billion a year into the Cairns economy and supports 23,300 jobs. We know these numbers will increase greatly in coming years and infrastructure is an important part of growing this industry.”

State Development Minister Cameron Dick said the port upgrades and dredging “would allow a significant increase in the size and number of cruise ships travelling to Cairns”.

“Overseas experience suggests the cruise ship project will deliver an $850 million boost to Far North Queensland tourism with up to 100 extra cruise ships to berth annually in the Port of Cairns by 2031,” he said.

“This will potentially result in a tripling of the number of passenger days spent in Cairns each year due to cruise ship tourism – an increase of 225,000 passenger days each year by 2031.”

Ms Jones said in coming weeks she would discuss the hub with Cairns Mayor Bob Manning, who initially was unaware of the proposal when it was announced last year.

Cr Manning said the council had signed a memorandum of understanding with the tourism industry development’s special projects unit “to progress the GTH’s development”.

He said it would be a “big winner” for the city.