INTERNATIONAL travel agents have touched down in Cairns for a week-long familiarisation tour of Tropical North Queensland’s world-class tourism experiences.
Tourism Australia’s G’day Australia is one of the first major trade events at the Cairns Convention Centre following a $176 million expansion.
The event includes 300 international agents and holiday wholesalers taking 30 familiarisation tours of Queensland including 26 visitor experiences here in the Tropical North.
Specialising in selling Australian destinations to long-haul overseas holidaymakers, the 300 agents are predicted to generate an immediate $2 million for the visitor economy during their week-long stay in Cairns.
Familiarisation tours with Tropical North Queensland-based tourism operators include:
- Floating down a rainforest river with Back Country Bliss
- Scenic flights over the Great Barrier Reef with Nautilus Aviation
- Snorkelling with Calypso Reef Cruises
- Gourmet local produce tasting with Outback Tasting Tours
Assistant Minister for Tourism Industry Development and Member for Cairns Michael Healy said this week puts the best of Cairns, the Tropical North and Queensland on show to some of the world’s most influential international travel agents and holiday wholesalers.
“Having Tourism Australia’s week-long G’day Australia trade event based here in Tropical North Queensland is an incredible head-start for rebuilding our international visitor economy,” he said.
We want to make this week in the Tropical North an unforgettable experience for the travel agents who sell our world-class visitor experiences to international holidaymakers
Member for Cairns Michael Healy
G’day Australia is the second significant tourism trade event to be held in Cairns in the last year, following ATEC Meeting Place in November and May’s Australian Tourism Exchange.
This week’s familiarisation tours were secured through the Queensland Government’s partnerships through TEQ with Tourism Tropical North Queensland and Tourism Australia.
Minister for Tourism, Innovation and Sport and Minister Assisting the Premier on Olympics and Paralympics Sport and Engagement Stirling Hinchliffe said this is an important opportunity to show the world why Queensland is Australia’s favourite holiday destination.
“Together with Queensland’s ongoing international marketing partnerships, G’day Australia in Cairns is part of building an $11 billion-a-year international visitor economy,” he said.
Tourism and Events Queensland CEO Patricia O’Callaghan said Cairns is ready to roll out the welcome mat for the 300 visiting travel agents.
“Events like G’day Australia are essential in growing our international market and we will continue to build on strong partnerships to maximise opportunities for Queensland,” she said.
Keep up with the latest news in Cairns and the Far North, and check out some of our top stories this week: State MP’s car stolen and Cane harvest on home stretch.