Tourism operators in Port Douglas are reporting strong trade for the upcoming Easter period on the back of a positive start to 2014. 

Tourism Port Douglas and Daintree executive officer Doug Ryan said it had been a particularly good low season for operators with the return of the international markets. 

"When the domestic market typically quietens down after the traditional school holiday periods and long weekends, we then see the arrival of international visitors. 

"Indicators for the Easter school holiday period and beyond are very positive," he added. 

Kelvin Dodt, general manager of the Pullman Port Douglas Sea Temple Resort, said the resort was looking forward to a stronger Easter holiday period than the previous year, having experienced three consecutive years of growth over this period.

"In 2014 we will be welcoming a diverse range of visitors, including many US visitors in the first week, before the traditional domestic market returns from the 10-day period encompassing the Easter long weekend. 

"The majority of our domestic arrivals are from southern destinations, including Sydney and Melbourne."

Mr Dodt said the next six months were buoyant and holdings stronger than 2013. 

The resort was also enjoying strong conference and incentive bookings and improved advance reservations in the traditional high periods such as school holiday periods.

Ramada Resort Port Douglas general manager Nathan Hunt said a similar trend was showing at Ramada, which underwent a multi-million dollar refurbishment in 2013. 

"We are close to capacity for April and it is shaping up to be a great year," he said. 

"We are excited to see so many more international guests coming to visit Port Douglas and Ramada Resort."

Mr Hunt said the refurbishment was having a positive impact on guest stays with the resort seeing a real mix of visitors including an increase from the UK and US in addition to its domestic travellers.

'Very solid' was also the term used by Oaks Lagoons hotel manager Murray Worthington to describe the hotel's Easter trade.

"We have received a lot of enquiry for April and while our bookings seem to be holding so far, the booking lead time is getting shorter," he said.

Mr Worthington said it would be interesting to see whether travellers decided to increase their length of stay after the school holiday period due to the following short week. 

"This year Easter falls on the second week of the holiday break for the eastern states," he said.

"With Anzac day on the following Friday, many may take the three days of their annual leave to add another week to their holidays."

He said Melbourne continued to be the Port Douglas resort’s main source market, followed by Sydney. 

He was hopeful that if the winter in the southern states is as cold as predicted, than Port Douglas may be in for another bumper season as visitors 'flock north for a mid-winter defrost'.