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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
July 2022 CEO Update
Tropical North Queensland has a starring role in a new South Korean reality television series and Irish star Ronan Keating will be bringing his family to Port Douglas to showcase the destination through his social media channels as part of our international marketing.
29 June 2022 CEO Update
Strong spending by visitors has brought a record $3 billion tourism expenditure boost to the Tropical North Queensland economy.
June 2022 CEO Update
Cairns has earned the reputation as the best place in the world for wildlife viewing and the third best for diving and snorkelling, according to the latest Destination Think! Tourism Sentiment Index.
#ExploreTNQ

This is your sign to climb aboard @sailawayportdouglas and explore the beautiful blue hues of the @gbrmarinepark 💙🐠🪸
🎥 @sailawayportdouglas #exploreTNQ #explorecairnsGBR ...

Have you heard about the Cardwell Spa Pool before? 💙
This stunning blue pool is one of the most famous stops along the Cardwell Forest Drive in @cassowarycoastaustralia 🌴 While it looks...

This could be your week in @portdouglasdaintree 🌴💚
🎥 @tara_treloar #exploreTNQ #explorecairnsGBR #portdouglasdaintree

Happy World Tourism Day 🌴🦋
Did you know that the tourism industry in Tropical North Queensland is crucial to the protection and management of the Great Barrier Reef? Here’s how ...

Say hello to pretty Palm Cove - your one stop shop for laid back luxury, great food and endless dreamy views 🌴🦋
Make sure you @visitpalmcove on your next tropical adventure 🙌
...

A different kind of view out to #DoubleIsland for your Monday night 🧡✨
📸 @annamariabraun_ #explorecairnsgbr #exploretnq #seeaustralia #thisisqueensland

The #CathedralFigTree has a pretty incredible history - the short story is that It's the result of a strangler fig taking over a host tree which eventually rotted away to leave what you see ...

In case you weren’t already aware, some of the best waterfalls in the region are found in #CapeYork 🌴🧡 It’s prime time to head north, so don’t forget to visit our bio link and learn what a...

Who else is craving a luxury getaway to @crystalbrookriley? 🌴🍸 This is certainly one resort that’s perfect from every angle - with glorious rooms, incredible food & responsible luxury ...
