Tourism Tropical North Queensland has set an ambitious growth target for holiday visitor numbers from Japan. The plan is to attract double the current number of visitors from Japan by 2015.

The rebuilding of visitor numbers from Japan began with the reintroduction of scheduled services between Osaka and Cairns in April last year, and the marketing by local tourism businesses to promote the Jetstar flights with the Japanese travel industry and public.

By the end of 2010 Japan had reclaimed the position of top visitor source market for Cairns & Great Barrier Reef, and the region had been elevated to the top holiday destination in Australia for Japanese visitors.

"Although the earthquake and tsunami slowed international travel from Japan, we are confident that the rebuilding of the market is the solid base, which with continued marketing by TTNQ, local tourism operators and our partners, will enable the region to achieve the targeted growth to 211,700 Japanese visitors by 2015," a recent TTNQ media release stated.

The next step in the strategy is the "high level" mission to Tokyo and Osaka which leaves Cairns next week. The partnership of tourism CEOs and Managing Directors with the Mayor of Cairns and a representative from Jetstar will present the Cairns Vision for 2015 to tourism industry leaders.

“Cairns & Great Barrier Reef achieved a 25% increase in the number of visitors from Japan and a 41% increase in visitor nights in 2010. Cairns Vision for 2015 sets goals and strategies for the next five years which includes promotion of events such as Cairns Indigenous Art Fair, the Solar Eclipse in November 2012 and Challenge Cairns 2012 to attract Japanese visitors to the region,” Chairman of TTNQ Bill Calderwood said.