MAGNETIC ATTRACTION
VISITORS BOMBARD ISLAND
MAGNETIC Island has seen a welcome boost in tourism numbers over the school holidays.
But accommodation providers and tourist operators remain cautiously optimistic about the future.
The island has been boosted by mostly local travellers making the most of eased restrictions over the school holiday period, with accommodation providers grateful for the increase in business.
But the holiday period, normally one of the busiest for the island, will only be a Band-aid fix if local residents don’t continue to support the island or interstate travellers choose not to come.
Chair of Tourism Magnetic Island Norman Jenkin said a range of visitors were not only booking accommodation, but also tour experiences.
“All businesses especially in the accommodation and hospitality sectors have noticed an increased support from locals from the Townsville region, as they are booking short two night stays over the weekends in particular,” he said.
“Accommodation and tour operators are grateful for the local support given to them over school holidays so far, as it is great to get much needed cash flow into their businesses.
“There’s a long road to recovery as the island is currently missing southern visitors and international tourists who would stay longer, spend more and book the tours to learn about the island from our great local tour businesses.” Townsville day tripper Sarah Kennedy soaked up the atmosphere on the island yesterday, heading over with two friends and their kids.
She said there was a positive vibe on the island, with plenty of families enjoying some much needed time off.
Spending the day at Arcadia including time on the beach and at parks, Sarah said she’d normally stay overnight but couldn’t due to work.
But she noticed plenty of locals making the most of eased restrictions.
“I spoke to a local who lives over there and they were saying there’s a lot of locals staying for a few days,” she said.
“At the pub, you couldn’t get a table.
“I had booked and people were trying to get seats with staff trying to see what they could do, but obviously with restrictions they couldn’t.”
Sealink has seen an increase in the number of people using the service to access Magnetic Island, but North Queensland general manager Chris Briggs warned it was all relative.
It has seen a huge number of regional visitors travelling to and from the island but is also still missing key demographics from interstate and overseas.
He said the school holiday period acted as a shot in the arm not just for the ferry service but the whole island’s economy.