Qld gets $70m boost

QUEENSLAND’S tourism industry is set to receive a major funding boost, with a joint state and federal government initiative to allocate $70 million to support struggling businesses.

Under the terms of the package, $30 million will be targeted at supporting Queensland’s iconic tourism attractions, while $40 million will be used to provide a second round of grants to small, medium and large tourism companies that previously received an initial grant from the Tourism and Hospitality Sector Hardship Program.

To be eligible, businesses will need to be “nationally significant tourism operators and attractions”, and show a 50% reduction in turnover and visitation over the three-month period from 01 Jul to 30 Sep 2021, compared to pre-COVID.