Cooler weather draws tourists to tropical Queensland but flights stall international revival
ABCOnline searches for tropical holidays have spiked during a cold snap in Australia southern's states, but international tourists are competing for a limited number of flights into north Queensland. Key points: Cooler weather and returning international visitors are creating a mid-year tourism boom in parts of North Queensland Expected occupancy rates in Port Douglas are averaging about 85 per cent over the coming four weeks Limited inbound flights remain a challenge for the recovering sector Domestic visitation to North Queensland slowed in the first half of the year after a record-breaking 2022, with more Australians heading overseas. Tourism Tropical North Queensland CEO Mark Olsen said that was partly driven by the return of overseas visitors. Airfares flying high Tourism Port Douglas Daintree CEO Tara Bennett said more direct flights from Singapore would help drive down the cost of airfares for international arrivals. "That's why the work visas along with holiday worker visas are so important," Mary Carroll from Capricornia's Enterprise, the organisation responsible for marketing the central Queensland region as a tourism destination, said.
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Tourists encouraged to keep bookings in Far North Queensland after flood disaster
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