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
12 Mar 2025
March 2025 CEO Update

Tourism Tropical North Queensland’s members are front and centre of our engagement with tourism trade partners around the world this month through webinars and face-to-face appointments as we approach the end of our Federally funded campaign activity.

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CEO-Board Updates
12 Feb 2025
February 2025 CEO Update

Global expectations are rising for the tourism industry to move beyond providing experiences to ensuring tourism is sustainable and contributing to the future of our natural environments and our communities.   

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CEO-Board Updates
15 Jan 2025
January 2025 CEO Update

Happy New Year – just a few weeks in and 2025 is already feeling more promising than the devastation that Tropical North Queensland was facing last year.

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CEO-Board Updates
11 Dec 2024
December 2024 CEO Update

As this tumultuous year comes to an end, it is time to reflect on the great progress we have made as a collective towards our ambitious goal of reaching $5 billion of visitor spend.

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CEO-Board Updates
13 Nov 2024
November 2024 CEO Update

Tourism Tropical North Queensland welcomes the new Minister for the Environment and Tourism, and Minister for Science and Innovation Andrew Powell to the Queensland Cabinet.

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CEO-Board Updates
2 Oct 2024
October 2024 CEO Update

The tourism industry of Tropical North Queensland welcomes the ALP commitment and seeks bipartisan support for a $10 million investment over four years to drive our region’s recovery and the future growth of tourism in Queensland.

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CEO-Board Updates
18 Sep 2024
September 2024 CEO Update

With little more than five weeks until we head to the State Government polls, Tourism Tropical North Queensland is asking all candidates to support the recovery of Tropical North Queensland to ensure Queensland is a powerhouse for Australian tourism growth over the next four years.

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CEO-Board Updates
21 Aug 2024
August 2024 CEO Update

The Business Events sector is setting multiple records for Tropical North Queensland with record visitation and record leads playing an ongoing key role in the region’s recovery.

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CEO-Board Updates
24 Jul 2024
July 2024 CEO Update

Early results from TTNQ’s global campaigns are showing an incredible 37:1 return on investment with $82 million in overnight visitor expenditure already reaped from 51 international campaigns and another 44 campaigns yet to be reported on.

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CEO-Board Updates
29 May 2024
May 2024 CEO Update

Team Tropical North Queensland held more than 7000 appointments to promote the destination in Melbourne last week at the Australian Tourism Exchange 2024. Our destination was represented at 48 booths with 86 delegates attending the four days of trade appointments and events, in addition to meetings with aviation partners and media.

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CEO-Board Updates
1 May 2024
May 2024 CEO Update

Tropical North Queensland’s events calendar is in full swing with 100 community heroes from across the country attending the world-first Savannah Sounds on the Reef featuring Sheppard and Lee Kernaghan at the Reef Magic pontoon on Saturday.

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CEO-Board Updates
3 Apr 2024
April 2024 CEO Update

The new Singapore Airlines A350 service touched down in Cairns this week bringing with it the opportunity to progress Tropical North Queensland’s international recovery.

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CEO-Board Updates
6 Mar 2024
March 2024 CEO Update

TTNQ has launched a Sustainability Leaders Group as part of our vision for Tropical North Queensland to be the leader in ecotourism in Australia and our mission for every visitor to leave our destination as a custodian of the region’s stories.

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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

Every day is an adventure in @TropicalNorthQueensland. ☀️ And if you need a little inspo, here are 8 experiences that made 🎥 @kellerdiaries' list. 

🚂 Take a scenic ride through the rainforest on the @kurandascenicrailway.
🐎 Gallop along the beach between two World Heritage sites with @capetribhorserides.
🛥️ Cruise to Mackay Coral Cay for pristine white sand and crystal-clear waters.
🍍 Hunt for hidden gems and fresh local produce at the Port Douglas Markets.
🍇 Indulge in a delicious road trip through the @athertontablelands’ foodie trail.
🏝️ Spend a sun-soaked day exploring @fitzroyisland.
🤿 Snorkel the @gbrmarinepark and meet its incredible marine life.
🌴 Chase waterfalls and secret swimming spots in @portdouglasdaintree. 

#exploreTNQ #explorecairnsGBR #thisisqueensland #seeaustralia @queensland  @australia 

ID Text over video reads “8 must-see places in Tropical North Queensland” followed by a series of videos showing a train travelling through a rainforest, people riding horses along a sandy shoreline, people standing on a white sand cay in the ocean, an outdoor market filled with people and stalls, a person admiring views from a lookout beneath a tree, a white sand beach with bright blue water, colourful coral underwater and a person jumping into a rainforest waterhole.
Heaven IS a place on Earth… and it looks a lot like this 💙. #LizardIsland is serving up some pretty spectacular views so, who’s coming with you? 🏝️

🎥 @lizardisland 

#exploreTNQ #explorecairnsGBR #thisisqueensland #seeaustralia @queensland @australia @cooktowntnq 

ID Aerial and close-up shots of the landscapes of Lizard Island, featuring crystal-clear waters, white sandy beaches, and vibrant marine life.
OMG, Is that a baby dragon? Meet the newest additions to the @WildlifeHabitat - Wilma and Whiplash’s tiny but mighty Boyd’s Forest Dragons. After months of careful incubation, they have finally hatched. Who else thinks they need names? 👇

🎥 @wildlifehabitat 

#exploreTNQ #explorecairnsGBR #thisisqueensland #seeaustralia @queensland  @australia  @portdouglasdaintree 

ID A Wildlife Habitat keeper introduces newly hatched Boyd’s Forest Dragons, explaining the incubation process. The video shows gloved hands gently handling tiny eggs and placing baby dragons in an incubation container. The scene shifts to their parents, Wilma and Whiplash, perched in their enclosure. The keeper describes the careful temperature and humidity control needed for hatching.
Literally obsessed with these treetop hoppers! Say hello to the Lumholtz’s Tree Kangaroo, the ultimate proof that Australia’s wildlife is next-level adorable. Like seriously… just look at that face. 😍 How would you describe this little guy in one word?

📸: @wolfekind

#exploreTNQ #explorecairnsGBR #thisisqueensland #seeaustralia @queensland @australia @athertontablelands

ID A tree kangaroo clings to a tree trunk, sticking its tongue out. It is surrounded by green leaves, with sunlight filtering through the canopy.
From the #GreatBarrierReef to ancient rainforest, women are shaping the future of Tropical North Queensland. This #InternationalWomensDay, we celebrate the leaders, innovators and changemakers accelerating action in our region. Tag an inspiring woman in your life 💜  #IWD2025 #accelerateaction 

@cairnsturtlerehab @backcountryblissadventures @cairnsadventuregroup @skydiveaustralia @talaroohotsprings @skyparkcairns @skyrailcairns @gbrbiology @reefmagiccairns @daintreediscovery @wildlifehabitat @cairns_aquarium 
 
#exploreTNQ #explorecairnsGBR #thisisqueensland #seeaustralia @queensland @australia  @portdouglasdaintree @cassowarycoastaustralia 

ID This video celebrates International Women’s Day 2025 with the theme “Accelerate Action”. It features aerial shots of Tropical North Queensland, followed by women working in tourism and conservation,  from guiding tours to protecting saving turtles on the Great Barrier Reef.
Deals too hot to miss. 🌴☀️ Dreaming of your next adventure? @TropicalNorthQueensland has never looked so good. 

#exploreTNQ #explorecairnsGBR #thisisqueensland #seeaustralia @queensland @australia @portdouglasdaintree @athertontablelands @oaks_hotels @daintreetours @windswell_kite_sup_reef @wildlifehabitat @skydiveaustralia  @treetopsadventurecapetrib @hartleyscrocodileadventures @cairns_aquarium @historicvillageherberton @salthousecairns @cassowarycoastaustralia 

ID A dynamic showcase of Tropical North Queensland’s top experiences, highlighting landscapes, adventure activities and exclusive travel deals. The video opens with the text ‘Deals Too Hot to Miss’ and ends with ‘Your Next Adventure Starts Here’.
Who needs solid ground when you can take adventure to @treetopsadventurecapetrib in the #DaintreeRainforest? 🎥 @amys.camera.lens 

#exploreTNQ #explorecairnsGBR #thisisqueensland #seeaustralia @queensland @australia @portdouglasdaintree #portdouglasdaintree @destinationdaintree

ID The video captures an exciting aerial adventure where participants navigate high ropes courses, suspended bridges and fast zip lines among tall trees.
Are you ready? Let’s go! 🎉 Who’s just a bit excited for @pdcarnivale? The date’s locked in, and with #SavannahSounds added to the mix, the program just got even bigger. Save the date - 23 May to 25 May  - book those flights and stay in #portdouglasdaintree for the ultimate Carnivale weekend.
 
#exploreTNQ #explorecairnsGBR #thisisqueensland #seeaustralia @queensland @australia #portdouglascarnivale 
 
ID The video shows a lively carnival with crowds, performers and entertainment. It features rides, street acts, giant kites on the beach, a live concert across a series of locations in tropical Port Douglas.
Wave hello to paradise 👋🏝 @fitzroyisland 🎥 @lap.livin.aus 

#exploreTNQ #explorecairnsGBR #thisisqueensland #seeaustralia @queensland  @australia 

ID The video shows drone footage of Fitzroy Island, featuring Nudey Beach from various angles. It captures the shoreline, water, and surrounding landscape from above.
Windows down, music up, this drive is what ‘dreams’ are made of. #GreatBarrierReefDrive 🎥: @tgraham.photography 

#exploreTNQ #explorecairnsGBR #thisisqueensland #seeaustralia @queensland  @australia  @portdouglasdaintree 

ID