Ireland said the challenge for TNQ tourism is global, since both international visitor numbers and visitor nights are in serious decline from Asia, UK, Europe and the USA.

“My own view is that we need an overhaul in how we manage our annual TNQ $3.5 billion tourism business, as it’s pivotal to our economic health and wellbeing.

“I am suggesting that we should do the following:

• Recognise that we need to change how we think, plan and manage our tourism business;
• Recognise that our TNQ tourism business requires a ‘commercial organisation’ to run it – TTNQ and TPDD are run as ‘not-for-profit’ agencies;
• Neither have any tourism visitor numbers or visitor nights forward budgets, so in 2019 the results of 2018 above are mere reflections, with vague commentaries around why the serious declines have happened;
• Recognise that supply driven tourism – airline seats and resort rooms etc. - will always follow demand driven tourism: Outcomes will always ‘follow the money’; and
• Invest a lot more in the business of tourism – spending 0.001% of annual TNQ total visitor expenditure to promote the region ($4 million p.a. to promote a $3.5 billion p.a. tourism business) is simply ridiculous.”
  
  

“The Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest are exceptional natural assets that provide outstanding and memorable tourism visitor experiences. 

“However, we need a new and professional tourism leadership and management to deliver a sustainable and profitable future for this jewel in the crown,” said Ireland.

Meanwhile, Tara Bennett, Executive Officer of Tourism Port Douglas Daintree, and Liz Ross, president of the Douglas Chamber of Commerce, both believe that increased SilkAir flights is a boon for the region.

“This week’s commencement of daily services from Singapore with Silk Air is a massive win for the Douglas Shire.

“Not only will it alleviate the pressure from the lost Cathay Pacific capacity in October, we will also have improved access to key markets with the affiliate Star Alliance partners,” said Ms Bennett.

Ms Ross said having SilkAir or Singapore Airlines will be great. “Having flown SilkAir into Singapore and then another airline to Vietnam, they are a very good carrier and if this gives them increased business in and out of Singapore it would be great,” she said.

In terms of luring the larger airlines to fly in and out of Cairns, Ms Ross said the price of fuel appears to be a factor.

“From what I have learned, the reason they are not flying into Australia so much is the price of fuel. Therefore the cost to the airline companies is what is making them rethink long haul routes.

“So, hopefully with Silk Air they can make it profitable and we may get people from other destinations,” she said.

Ms Ross also hopes the Douglas Shire can benefit from the increase in SilkAir flights.

“I hope we can. The Asian market is growing and will continue to grow. The Chinese market is being seen that will increase in people venturing into travel as their own economy grows.”

SilkAir, meanwhile, has celebrated the launch of daily services from Cairns to Singapore, with direct flights increasing from the current five times weekly owing to increasing demand.

The expansion to daily services will see the total number of SilkAir seats per week from Cairns to Singapore increase by 40 per cent, according to ETB Travel News.