Tourism leaders holding out for bubble decision

no plans to touch down in Cairns this winter.

The airline will limit essential Tasman services to 10 flights each week, shared between Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane until the end of June.

Cairns Airport’s Luis Perez said there was no disputing the fallout of the COVID crisis was a “huge setback” for the airline industry.

“But we hope that the (trans-Tasman) bubble will be one of the first markets operating,” he said.

However, the airport boss said it was not expected flights into Cairns would resume before the end of the usual seasonal service later this year.

“It’s not very likely because the season would have ended in October, so it would be too short,” he said. “Not to mention that we don’t know (the

The resort will then fully reopen seven days a week from June 26. Mr Jones said the Fitzroy Island shuttle was aimed at reinvigorating a local market grappling with life during the pandemic shutdown.

“We are sure there is some pent-up demand out there,” situation with the Australian) bubble. So how can you plan when you don’t know if you are going to be able to travel?”

Tourism Tropical North Queensland’s Mark Olsen also backed a trans-Tasman bubble, but the more immediate focus was a decision by the Premier, expected tomorrow, regarding drive market accessibility through the north Queensland travel bubble.

Mr Jones said.

“It is still viable for us to run Fitzroy Island, but it is not something we can make money from until we get tourists back.

“In a local market, we charge reduced rates, because locals have always had discounts. This product appeals to the local market, but a lot of our other operations rely on tourists.”

In the Far North, these include skydiving at Mission Beach and Cairns, reef tours, island day trips and rainforest excursions in Port Douglas.

The toe-dip back into oper

“We hope (the announcement) will include confirmation of the north Queensland bubble from the fifth of June and we hope also that it includes a date to open Queensland for Queenslanders,” he said.

Mr Olsen also wanted clarity on the opening of state borders.

“The sooner the better; every day counts at the moment and more important is certainty of when that may occur … if Queenslanders are going to book their (July) school holidays here, they need to start this weekend.”

Dozens of desperate tourism operators frustrated by extended border closures are expected to stage a “car protest” next week if no plan is made to open the state’s borders by July.