The Minister for Tourism, Martin Ferguson AM MP, has announced further Federal Government assistance to help Tropical North Queensland attract visitors from around the world.
The Australian Government will spend $1.25 million through Tourism Australia on marketing initiatives in Asia, Europe, and New Zealand to generate demand among overseas visitors for tourism experiences in Tropical North Queensland.
This is in addition to the $750,000 previously allocated to market charter flights from Japan following changes to air services into Cairns from December 2008.
Minister Ferguson said: "In addition to our important ongoing support for the Japanese market, we also want to help Tropical North Queensland attract more visitors out of markets such as the UK, Germany, and New Zealand.
"Strengthening Tropical North Queensland's global appeal will help the industry respond to the Qantas Group's decision to cut direct services from western Japan into Cairns. It will put the tourism industry in Tropical North Queensland on a surer footing for the future by helping to broaden its range of source markets."
Minister Ferguson said the additional funding would be used to support consumer and trade marketing initiatives in Japan; promoting Cairns and Tropical North Queensland in the UK, Germany, and New Zealand through projects with major travel wholesalers and tour operators; and supporting new air charter opportunities out of southern China.
Minister Ferguson said: "The funding for these marketing activities is being provided as part of the Australian Government's $4 million assistance package for the North Queensland tourism industry and the initiatives being announced today have been developed in close consultation with the local tourism industry.
"As well as these new measures, Tropical North Queensland already forms an integral part of Tourism Australia's global marketing campaigns, including the new destination campaign (which features the Great Barrier Reef) and the World Heritage Campaign which is run in Japan."
Minister Ferguson said the assistance package is helping the North Queensland industry address immediate needs through marketing projects to stimulate demand, as well as funding research and development initiatives to identify long-term sustainable solutions for a vibrant tourism industry.