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
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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CEO-Board Updates
27 Jul 2022
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.

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CEO-Board Updates
29 Jun 2022
29 June 2022 CEO Update

Strong spending by visitors has brought a record $3 billion tourism expenditure boost to the Tropical North Queensland economy.

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CEO-Board Updates
15 Jun 2022
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.

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#ExploreTNQ

POV us getting ready for spooky season 🎃🐦‍⬛

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

🎥 @sailawayportdouglas #exploreTNQ #explorecairnsGBR #portdouglasdaintree #greatbarrierreef
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 incredible through parts of the year, it isn’t always this full, so make sure you check in with the local visitor information centres before heading off to avoid disappointment.

Head to our bio link to find out everything you need to know! ☝️

🎥 @gratefulcoconut #exploreTNQ #explorecairnsGBR #cassowarycoast
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 🪸🐠

1. Coral Nurture Program
2. Reef Restoration 
3. Coral Rubble Stabilisation
4. Living coral biobank
5. Great Barrier Reef Census

And of course the most important part…you!

#exploreTNQ #explorecairnsGBR
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 🙌

📸 @braedanlovett #exploreTNQ #explorecairnsGBR #thisisqueensland #seeaustralia #palmcove #visitpalmcove
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 before you today, but it’s much more complicated than that! 😉 🌿

🎥 @jaydenw.illiams #exploreTNQ #explorecairnsGBR #thisisqueensland #seeaustralia #athertontablelands
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 trip to The Tip is all about! 🚙

📸 @borderlandexplorers #exploreTNQ #explorecairnsGBR #thisisqueensland #seeaustralia
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 taking centre stage 🌿💚 Don’t forget to head to our bio link for epic @crystalbrookcollection deals 🤑

📸 @jaydenw.illiams #exploreTNQ #explorecairnsGBR #thisisqueensland #seeaustralia #cairns #responsibleluxury