It has been reported that peak Queensland tourism industry groups will lobby state and federal governments to stagger school term breaks to bolster a longer season.

After a record September school holiday period for tourism operators, it is reported that the holidaymakers with school age children are fed up with mark-ups for overbooked accommodation, crowded flights and long queues at tourist attractions as well as packed beaches.

It is reported that the plan by Queensland’s peak tourism industry groups will be presented at the next Council of Australian Governments meeting.

Queensland Tourism Industry Council chief Daniel Gschwind has reported also that this would be a positive move to spread out the peak seasons for the industry.

It was also reported by Tourism Tropical North Queensland board member Michael Trout that extending the peak season would be beneficial in particular to the domestic market.

Cathie Jones from Tropical Journeys said she this would be a positive move for the tourism industry throughout Australia.

“We find that people come up here and they can't get into restaurants or onto tours, accommodation is expensive and airfares are through the roof.

“The Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest are two of the biggest draw cards to our our region and many people go home disappointed because they can't get on to the tours as they're booked out,” said Ms Jones.

Sighting this change as not only a benefit to Queensland but for the whole of Australia, Ms Jones said that this will encourage people to holiday at home not just when the Australian dollar was low.

“We have to lift our game… There will be a huge economic benefit to everyone if this can be achieved.  It will also create more job opportunities and certainty of employment which is another problem in our area,” she said.

Tara Bennett Executive Officer of Tourism Port Douglas Daintree also believes there will be benefit in extending the season.

“Stretching out the school holiday period would provide economic benefit to the region.

“Port Douglas and the Daintree region frequently runs at full capacity during the July and September school holidays.  Spreading out the domestic school holiday period would reduce congestion on flights and hopefully provide more reasonably priced airfares,” said Ms Bennett.

Two years ago Ms Jones from Tropical Journeys said there was staggered holidays and when it was changed to bring them in line, she took pen to paper.

“I wrote to the Minister for Tourism and the Minister for Education (both Federal and State) only to be told that it could not be changed.  I don't see why it can't go back to how it was before with perhaps one week where the states overlap and with earlier and later commencement and finishing dates,” she said.

Ms Bennett also said Tourism Port Douglas Daintree supports the proposed changes as they will benefit the regions heavily tourism reliant economy.

“Our operators have been asking for this for many years.  2016 will be a little different as NSW will be one week later than other states which will ease the pressure on our biggest holiday period in July and September,” she said.

Whilst it was reported that education experts also welcome the change, it was noted that getting the states and territories to agree on the change is where the challenge exists, given that interstate rivalry was the obstacle to any change to daylight savings.