IN boxing terms, Port Douglas could be the current pound-for-pound tourism champion of Australia.

In the midst of a particularly busy peak season, the town continues to punch above its weight and has claims to be Australia’s most popular travel destination judging by recent travel trends and surveys.

Popular reviews website TripAdvisor lists Port Douglas as the sixth most desirable destination for visitors in the country, alongside the might of capitals Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, on its top 10 list. It was streets ahead of southern rival Noosa while tourism mecca Byron Bay didn’t even make the cut.

And with terrorism incidents on the rise in neighboring countries and around the world, tourism is expected to skyrocket over the next 12 months. Tourism Tropical North Queensland CEO, Alex De Waal, said Port Douglas and the tropical north were well placed to capitalise on a spike in both domestic and international visitors.

“The Australian population recognises Tropical North Queensland as the countries most aspirational destination,” De Waal said.

“It’s a dream destination compared to highly desirable international options such as Hawaii, Thailand, Fiji and Bali, and while we’re well connected via aviation and other transport means, we are largely disconnected from contemporary global social and economic disquiet.

“Our key international markets recognise Australia as one of the world’s most aspirational places to visit and the demographic changes in our neighbouring Asian markets are driving an increase in visitors. In this context we are one of the closest and most desirable tourism destinations in Australia.”

Port Douglas, in particular, is certainly benefiting from the current devaluation of the Australian dollar against key international currencies, which has only enhanced its appeal as an affordable and alluring destination.

Tourism Port Douglas and Daintree Executive Officer, Tara Bennett, said the town’s popularity was even more impressive considering it doesn’t attract many business and family visitors due to its size and location.

“We are purely a leisure destination so to be so far up on travellers and tourism lists is fantastic,” Bennett said.

“When competing with the bigger markets it’s challenging given the nature of our competition. We don’t get the corporate or relative visitors of a Sydney or Melbourne, but the beauty and diversity of our location continues to see us punch above our weight.”

With the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest on its door step, De Waal said the love affair with the region would only increase.

“We are not a one-night stand rather a destination built on the basis of being the world’s best place to engage with nature,” he said.

“It’s a place that features the world’s oldest living cultures, one of the worlds oldest, diverse and most pristine Rainforests snuggled up against the iconic Great Barrier Reef. Our tourism experiences are one of a kind.”