Latest News
Keep your finger on the pulse and stay up to date with our latest news.
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.
TNQ First Nations Tourism Action Plan to grow capacity
Work is underway to implement the newly launched Tropical North Queensland First Nations Tourism Action Plan and embrace the full potential of Indigenous tourism in the region.
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.
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.
Cairns showcases a week of Business Events
A conference for one of Australia’s leading event management companies is kicking off a bumper week of business event activities in Cairns from Monday (March 27) showcasing the destination’s capability to host sustainable meetings, conferences and incentives.
Great Barrier Reef conservation tied to tourism
Conservation projects on the Great Barrier Reef are becoming more visible to the public as tourism operators showcase the important role they play in caring for the world’s largest and most diverse reef.
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.
Cairns Hosts Peak Strata Title Conference
The North Queensland insurance crisis is among the topics under discussion at the Strata Community Association Queensland annual conference at the Cairns Convention Centre today and tomorrow (March 2 – 3).
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.
Tropical North Queensland promotes accessible tourism
People of all abilities will be able to research their Tropical North Queensland holiday more comfortably with the addition of an accessibility widget on the Cairns & Great Barrier Reef destination website.
What’s New in Cairns & Great Barrier Reef (March 2023)
For more information go to cairnsgreatbarrierreef.com
Sustainable Travel Hub launches in Tropical North Queensland
Travellers can easily find interactive conservation projects, immersive cultural experiences and eco-certified operators with the launch of the Tropical North Queensland Sustainable Travel Hub today (February 3).
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.
Record $4 billion visitor spend for Tropical North Queensland
A record number of Australian holidaymakers staying longer in Tropical North Queensland has delivered the region its fifth consecutive quarterly record with domestic expenditure reaching $4 billion for the year ending September 2022.
New direct flight from Tokyo Haneda to Cairns announced
Virgin Australia will launch direct flights from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport to Cairns from June 2023 bringing more than 30,000 additional visitors to Queensland.
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.
Transport to go green in Tropical North Queensland
Visitors to the Great Barrier Reef will enjoy the silence on the reef with zero-emission scenic flights and a hybrid-electric catamaran under development for the Cairns Reef Fleet.
Australia’s first offshore nursery gives birth
Corals grown in Australia’s first offshore coral nursery at Fitzroy Island off Cairns have spawned for the first time after being planted on the Great Barrier Reef four years ago.
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.
Awards celebrate TNQ tourism excellence
A record number of submissions were received for the 2022 Simon George & Sons TNQ Tourism Industry Excellence Awards held at the Hilton Cairns last night (October 28).
Well Traveller TV finds wellness in Tropical North Queensland
Tropical North Queensland will appear in this week’s episode of Well Traveller TV, Australia’s first wellness travel show which premiered on Sunday 23 October on Network 10.
TTNQ Events & Meetings
Pop these important dates into the calendar to attend upcoming events, trade conferences and workshops.