CEO & Board Updates

The CEO and Board provide regular updates to members and stakeholders on TTNQ’s activities and the state of the industry. These are included in TTNQ’s member newsletters.

CEO-Board Updates
7 Feb 2024
February 2024 CEO Update

With Cape Tribulation still inaccessible, forward bookings in Port Douglas well down and Cairns still behind previous years, it is essential that everything gets thrown at helping Tropical North Queensland tourism operators who face a very tough end of summer season.

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CEO-Board Updates
10 Jan 2024
January 2024 CEO Update

Tourism Tropical North Queensland has been advocating for industry support since 10 December when Tropical Cyclone Jasper was looming and to date we have done more than 40 media appearances to let decision-makers and visitors know where help is needed.

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CEO-Board Updates
15 Nov 2023
November 2023 CEO Update

Tourism Tropical North Queensland has launched our first global trade campaigns for the Cairns & Great Barrier Reef brand partnering with Expedia and Trip.com for activity in seven key international markets. The global campaigns are among more than 20 campaigns utilising the Federal Government’s $15 million International Tourism Recovery Program funding.

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CEO-Board Updates
18 Oct 2023
October 2023 CEO Update

Cairns & Great Barrier Reef received a resounding thumbs up from the 300 Aussie Specialists at G’Day Australia at the Cairns Convention Centre last week, while familiarisation tours before and after the event generated $2 million for Tropical North Queensland’s visitor economy.

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CEO-Board Updates
20 Sep 2023
September 2023 CEO Update

The positive impact of tourism on the environment and local community was emphasised at TTNQ’s first international media showcase in Japan last week attended by 25 Japanese media.

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CEO-Board Updates
23 Aug 2023
August 2023 CEO Update

There is much excitement in the industry about the prospect of the return of Tropical North Queensland’s once-strong Chinese visitor numbers before Chinese New Year after a week of good news from the China market.

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CEO-Board Updates
26 Jul 2023
July 2023 CEO Update

Tropical North Queensland’s international recovery is well underway with the significant milestone of 10,000 passengers reached earlier this month, marking the busiest week for Cairns’ international terminal since February 2020.

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CEO-Board Updates
28 Jun 2023
June 2023 CEO Update

High-spending Sydney visitors helped to grow interstate travel to Tropical North Queensland for the year ending March 2023 generating a $2.6 billion boost to the economy, according to Tourism Research Australia’s National Visitor Survey figures released today.

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CEO-Board Updates
14 Jun 2023
June 2023 CEO Update

The upcoming year presents the greatest opportunity our destination has ever had to influence international visitors to choose Cairns & Great Barrier Reef for their next holiday.

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CEO-Board Updates
31 May 2023
May 2023 CEO Update

We are nearly half way through the Year of Accessible Tourism and I am delighted to see more operators thinking about how they can be more inclusive. Congratulations to Quicksilver Dive in Port Douglas on becoming the first PADI Adaptive Service Facility in Queensland opening up scuba to people with varying levels of mobility.

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CEO-Board Updates
2 May 2023
May 2023 CEO Update

Cairns & Great Barrier Reef has an enormous legacy in China thanks to the long-established relationships with our operators and TTNQ’s active engagement over many years. This was demonstrated in the warm reception that China Sales and Marketing Manager Harriet Ganfield and I received as part of the Team Queensland Mission to China.

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CEO-Board Updates
5 Apr 2023
April 2023 CEO Update

Global Meetings Day was celebrated on 30 March, coinciding with a milestone week in the recovery of the business events industry for Tropical North Queensland where we showcased our destination’s capabilities to host sustainable meetings, conferences and incentives.

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CEO-Board Updates
7 Mar 2023
March 2023 CEO Update

The announcement that Cairns will host Tourism Australia’s mega event G’Day Australia bringing more than 300 Aussie Specialists into our region in October is exciting news that will assist with the destination’s international recovery.

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CEO-Board Updates
22 Feb 2023
February 2023 CEO Update

Tourism is all about working together as an industry to market a destination and I’m pleased to see more evidence of this as 2023 unfolds. Collaboration, networking and partnerships are key to maximising opportunities and stretching valuable marketing dollars even further in a very crowded global marketplace.

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CEO-Board Updates
25 Jan 2023
January 2023 CEO Update

China’s announcement that its border would open on January 8 was a welcome New Year surprise bringing instant optimism that international travel would have a better chance of rebounding in the coming year.

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CEO-Board Updates
14 Dec 2022
December 2022 CEO Update

Virgin Australia will launch direct flights from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport to Cairns from 28 June 2023 bringing more than 30,000 additional visitors to Tropical North Queensland as a result of the first Cairns Airport deal through the Queensland Government’s $200 million Attracting Aviation Investment Fund.

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CEO-Board Updates
2 Nov 2022
November 2022 CEO Update

Budget night last week was one of the more memorable in my career as I received the call from Senators Don Farrell and Nita Green finally confirming that our destination would receive the promised $15 million in international destination marketing funds over the next three years.

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CEO-Board Updates
20 Oct 2022
October 2022 CEO Update

A strong majority of local government representatives have put their support behind further investigation of an opt-in visitor levy for local governments with 85% of attendees at the Queensland Local Government Conference voting for it in Cairns yesterday.

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CEO-Board Updates
21 Sep 2022
September 2022 CEO Update

Visitors with accessibility challenges account for some 15-20% of global tourism. Research by Tourism Australia has shown that accessible tourism can be a game changer for destinations that will assist with post-pandemic recovery by building industry resilience.

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CEO-Board Updates
24 Aug 2022
August 2022 CEO Update

TTNQ and 22 member businesses were the largest contingent at Tourism Australia’s Marketplace North America this month, meeting with 80 trade representatives to promote Cairns & Great Barrier Reef.

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#ExploreTNQ

Today we take time to commemorate the brave men & women who have served our nation in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations.

Soldiers from Tropical North Queensland joined the defence force to help protect Australia, including many Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people. Thanks to these people, we now live in an incredible location that we’re very proud of 💙🌴

If you’re interested in learning more about the history of the region, visit the Cairns Museum or check out some of the many historical sites around the region including the ANZAC trail ✨

Lest We Forget ❤️
If bright blue milky waters and a jacuzzi-like spa spells bliss for you then we’ve got you covered 🙌🌴 Cardwell Spa Pool, located along the Cardwell Forest Drive, is just one of few colourful swimming spots in the area! 🦋 If you enjoy waterhole hopping, head further along the track to Attie Creek Falls & Dead Horse Creek 🚙🌿

🎥 @jessadventuresaus #exploreTNQ #explorecairnsGBR #thisisqueensland #seeaustralia #cassowarycoast

[ID: Video clips of the Cardwell Spa Pool, which has bright blue water and is surrounded by lush green rainforest. Text on screen reads: Is this the bluest swimming hole in all of Australia?]
Happy Earth Day! 🌏🌱
This year for Earth Day, we’re working to reduce plastic use in Tropical North Queensland, here’s how you can help on your next holiday!

☕️ Reusable water bottles, coffee cups, straws and more! 
🏝️ Support local conservation efforts like beach clean ups
🦋 Choose eco-friendly accommodation, restaurants and tours who are also working to reduce plastic use
🗑️ Reduce and recycle your rubbish (make sure it goes in the right bin and doesn’t end up on the ground!)

Hit the bio link to learn more ☝️

#exploreTNQ #explorecairnsgbr #earthday2024
There’s more than one way to see the Great Barrier Reef, but a Seawalker Helmet Dive has got to be one of the best! Discover this underwater world without even getting your hair wet! 

#exploreTNQ #exploreGBR

[ID: Collection of clips from an underwater helmet dive in the Great Barrier Reef. Featuring yellow tailed fusilers and other fish]
Want an escape from reality? Try @fitzroyisland 🏝️☀️

📸 @jesswardphoto #thisisqueensland #seeaustralia #exploretnq #explorecairnsgbr #greatbarrierreef #island 

[ID: A breathtaking pink and orange sunset over the ocean, with a pier and a boat gently floating on the calm waters. Rainforest covered mountains visible in the distance.]
So, you’re all booked in for your trip to Tropical North Queensland (YAY!) But what do you pack? 🤔🌴 @kellerdiaries is here to help you out! Here are our top tips on what to pack for your next holiday to the tropics:
 
📍 Summer clothes (no jumpers needed ❌)
📍 Sun protection - hat, sunnies and sunscreen
📍 Reusable water bottle and keep cup (if you’re a coffee drinker)
📍Don’t forget your thongs (or flip flops, jandals, whatever you want to call them!)
 
#exporeTNQ #explorecairnsGBR #thisisqueensland #seeaustralia #packing
If you need a reason to become a morning person, this is it! 🎈No better way to watch the sunrise over the Atherton Tablelands than gliding above it with @hotairballooncairns

#ExploreTNQ #ExplorecairnsGBR #athertontablelands

[ID: sunrise from a hot air balloon ride over the Atherton Tablelands]
Are you ready to learn all about the Great Barrier Reef? 🧑‍🏫📖

@masterreefguides @tahnmiller is here to give us all the important @gbrmarinepark facts! Where better to start than right at the very beginning, what is the Great Barrier Reef? 🪸
 
Stay tuned for more reef information and facts with Tahn, and don’t forget to jump on a tour with a Master Reef Guide next time you’re in Tropical North Queensland 🩵

🎥 @queensland 
 
#ExploreTNQ #ThisIsQueensland #SeeAustralia #ExploreCairnsGBR #GreatBarrierReef
If there's one thing we know about those lovely tropical raindrops, it's that it sometimes they make everything just a little more magical! ✨🌴

📍 @lake_barrine_teahouse

🎥 @megannamourr #exploretnq #explorecairnsgbr #athertontablelands
Good morning #Cairns 👋👋 

🎥 @trendy.neo #explorecairnsgbr #exploretnq

[ID Warm orange and yellow sunrise over Cairns]