Tourism Queensland says while the far north's industry has turned a corner it will take another 12 to 18 months to fully recover.

Regional director Jeff Gillies says the far north saw a 25 to 30 per cent drop in its international tourist market over the 18 month downturn.

He says while things are looking up, some operators are still being affected by the downturn and a full recovery will take time.

"There is cautious optimism about the future, so a lot of operators and a lot of sectors are starting to feel the change, the shift," he said.  "However ... we do need to just be prepared that there will be some tougher times ahead ... or continued tough times over the next six or eight months or so."

Editors Comments: This downturn is not going to end in the short term.  The strength of the Aussie dollar rate is making many international travellers reconsider or delay their holiday plans.  However the domestic market is a short term positive solution to this shortfall but the tourism bodies have got to recognise this and take suitable action with their available funds.  There is very little point in spending promotional dollars on international areas that are going to supply no one to these shores.  Better to spend it incentivising our Southern friends to visit holiday destinations on their own doorstep rather than lose them to the cheaper alternatives in Asia.