More than $58 million has been injected into the local economy over the past two years through a Cairns Regional Council program focusing on attracting major events to the region. The Major and Economic Events Outcomes Report, tabled at last week’s Council meeting, outlined the economic impacts of events supported by the Major and Economic Events sponsorship program.
Council invested $2.7 million over 2021/22 and 2022/23 through the program to support 25 events, including 7 Cairns Marathon Festival, Ironman Cairns, Red Hot Summer Tour, Crankworx Cairns, and NRL pre-season games. The report, by independent consultant BASCO Consulting, estimated total economic impact of the events was $58.4 million ($18.3 million in 2021/22 and $40.1 million in 2022/23), achieved through attracting 52,650 visitors and almost 224,000 visitor nights.
These programs have been instrumental in attracting and supporting events that have not only bolstered the local economy but also heightened the profile of Cairns as a premier event destination. The economic impact nearly doubled from 2021/22 to 2022/23, reflecting the effectiveness of the Council’s support for events and the resilience of the Cairns region during the COVID recovery period.
The Council funding aligns with the Cairns and Great Barrier Reef Event Strategy 2025, a collaborative initiative with Tourism Tropical North Queensland, which has a primary focus of attracting events that provide a significant economic benefit and bolster our status as a premier destination. TTNQ works closely with Cairns Regional Council to promote tourism experiences to visitors attending events to extend their length of stay in the region.
[Events deliver major boost – TTNQ Fortnightly Pulse – 29 November 2023]