Tourism Report

$3m boost for islands

By Grantlee Kieza, Industry Reporter

The Queensland Government is investing $3 million to enhance access to key Great Barrier Reef islands.

The recently announced Great Barrier Reef Island Marine Infrastructure Package is part of a wider program for private investment in island tourism.

The Member for Mackay, Julieanne Gilbert, said the region had some of the world’s best tropical islands, and the government wanted to make it easier for visitors to explore and enjoy them. The government is allocating $3m to help with the delivery of new island jetties for better public access and island investment.

The new Yarrabah jetty and pontoon outside Cairns was also officially commissioned on September 7. Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the new 165-metre-long jetty with its pontoon at Gribble Point would be great assets for the community. “Construction of a landing at Yarrabah has been talked about for many years, and I am sure that the local community is as pleased as I am to see it finally becoming reality,” Mr Bailey said. “This is more than just a jetty and pontoon; this fantastic new infrastructure is now an iconic piece of Yarrabah and something locals can use and be proud of for many years to come.” The Member for Mulgrave Curtis Pitt said as Queensland’s largest Indigenous community, it was important that the area had the right access and could capitalise on the economic opportunities of the region. The jetty and pontoon and their approaches feature unique, striking images of Traditional Owner totems sandblasted into the concrete decks.

Ms Gilbert said she hoped the Great Barrier Reef Island Marine Infrastructure Package would become a catalyst for private investment in new and upgraded resorts, ecotourism opportunities and unique tropical island experiences. “Tourism is important to this region’s economy, and we have a golden opportunity to build on that by showing our wonderful islands to the world ahead of the 2032 Games,” she said.

“More investment in Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef islands means more tourism and more good, secure jobs for our visitor economy.” The Great Barrier Reef Island Marine Infrastructure initiative follows the Government’s $25m Great Barrier Reef Island Resorts Rejuvenation Program. Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said new nature-based island attractions were identified by the Action Plan for Tourism Recovery to position Queensland for future tourism success. “We’ve already started conversations with island leaseholders about the potential to improve access,” Mr Hinchliffe said.

“Applications for marine infrastructure funding are open now to Great Barrier Reef Island investors.

“Leaseholders on Keswick, Long and Hook islands are the among the investors in this region looking to improve island access. “Our priority is jetty infrastructure because we know it will drive investment in public facilities, new visitor attractions and fresh island accommodation.

“Jetties make access convenient for organised boat tours, as well as the tradies and building materials needed for resort upgrades and ecotourism developments. “The 2032 Games are creating investment and visitor opportunities to Queensland that no other destination has.”

Tourism Whitsundays chief executive Rick Hamilton said the Government’s investment had the potential to enhance the region’s impressive portfolio of “world class island experiences.” “It’s about building on our existing island product offering and opening up our stunning national parks and walking trails for visitor access,” he said.

Tourism Tropical North Queensland CEO Mark Olsen told The West: “Our region has authentic cultural experiences showcasing stories around rock art, bush tucker and medicine, art, star gazing, hot springs and gorges. “Several of these tours, including a Great Barrier Reef experience, an island walk, and a daytrip to the Torres Strait can be experienced from Cairns.” The recently launched Wunyami Cultural Walking Tour offers a guided journey around Wunyami (Green Island). During the hour-long Indigenous-led tour, guests can hear how the island is connected to the ancient journey of two ancestral beings and learn more about the cultural ceremonies of the GuruGulu Gungganji and Gimuy Yidinji people.

June’s domestic travel snapshot shows recovery

New figures released by Tourism Research Australia (TRA) show domestic travel has continued to improve after a COVID-impacted 2020 and 2021 with data released for June 2022 showing overnight spending increased by 22 percent to reach $7.5 billion.

However, while spending was up, overnight trips for the month dropped by 14 percent to 8.4 million, overnight trips dropped 14 percent to 8.4 million (down 14 percent on 2019) and nights spent on a trip dropping to 29 million (down by 8 percent). But compared to June 2019, the figures are still favourable with the increase in length of overnight trips rising by 8 percent on average and spending on accommodation, food and beverage, shopping and petrol increasing across the board. The highest increases in spending were seen in Queensland (up 59 percent or $808 million), Tasmania (up 54 percent or $100 million) and the ACT (up 22 percent or $38 million.) July and August 2021 were heavily affected by COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions. In comparison, early data shows domestic overnight trip rates for July 2022 and the first three weeks of August were significantly up. June 2022 saw strong results for interstate travel continue. While overnight trips were down (11 percent or 3.1 million), overnight spend was up by 20 percent. Results for Australia’s capital cities continued to improve in June 2022 when compared to pre-pandemic levels with overnight trips reaching the 3.5 million mark, in the process netting $3.7 billion. When compared to June 2021, this represented a 55 percent increase in overnight trips and a 77 percent increase in spend. Regional areas continued to perform well across the month with Australians taking 5.3 million overnight trips to regional areas (up 23 percent) and spending $3.8 billion (up 29 percent).

Sunshine State was top of mind for travellers for the September school holidays

Online search data from Expedia Group revealed Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Cairns topped the wish list for both domestic and international travellers.

Expedia Group was busy crunching numbers and analysing data to shed some light on the most popular holiday destinations in the lead up to the September school holiday break. Resultant data showed travel was squarely at the forefront of Australian minds, and in good news for holiday accommodation, length of stay remains solid with five nights for international travellers and four for domestic travellers.

Queensland remained the top domestic holiday choice with the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Cairns featuring in the top five most popular destinations, along with Sydney and Melbourne. Expedia Group’s data also saw the three Sunshine State locations feature among the top five ‘most searched’ destinations with Melbourne again making the cut but Sydney being overlooked for Bali.

From an international travel perspective, the data showed as international visitation once again returns to Australia’s shores, Sydney, Melbourne, the Gold Coast, Brisbane and Cairns are proving the places most travellers want to go in Australia.

And where will the international visitors be coming from?

According to the data the top five inbound markets intending to come to Australia during the September school holiday period are from Germany, the US, New Zealand, Singapore and the UK.

Expedia Group Director, Account Management, Jamie Griego said there had been green shoots for a traveller return to inner city escapes, but it was great for city-based hoteliers to see this come further to fruition.

“While our regional destinations in Australia continue to shine, it’s great to see Sydney and Melbourne, our two largest city centres, coming back into the top five,” he said.

“The slow but sure return from international travellers heading to Australia is also proving more optimistic with what feels like new and key markets coming through once again.”