BOOM TIME: Tourist accommodation on the edge of capacity

A long-awaited moment of truth has arrived for Douglas Shire’s economy this week - a huge injection of cash for the travel industry in the most tourism-reliant council area in Australia.

This event has been nearing two years in the making following the devastation of Cyclone Jasper, with accommodation across the region largely fully booked out for the three weeks of Australia’s June/July school holiday period, kicking off the peak season.

Industry body Tourism Port Douglas Daintree, booking agents, and accommodation operators spoken to by Newsport in the past week estimate resorts, hotels, backpackers and other tourism rooms are on average more than 90 per cent full, and strong bookings are continuing into August, September and beyond.

The news is a bit less positive for tour operators, with many people opting to wait until they arrive to decide what other experiences to take on.

TPDD executive director Emma Tunnock said the numbers were “very positive”.

“We’re very excited as we head into the school holiday period, occupancy is looking very solid, as we would hope and expect it would be,” she said.

“We’re tracking ahead of 2023, which is nice to see, and well ahead of 2024.”

For an industry that about 80 per cent of the Douglas Shire economy relies on, the past five years have been a rollercoaster ride like never before since Covid-19 hit in March 2020. Border closures and restricted flight access decimated visitation numbers back then, causing the Shire’s Gross Regional Product to shrink by more than 5 per cent in the quarter ending September 30, 2020.

Following that major trough, there was an “incredibly unprecedented” bumper period in 2022 as Covid border restrictions ended, but travellers still could not fly overseas. Numbers settled in 2023, and were looking better than pre-Covid, until Cyclone Jasper hit in December 2023. 

Many businesses have been trying to recover ever since, and some have been just hanging on in anticipation of this time. Close to $300m worth of losses hit the Douglas Shire in the months following Jasper, DSC’s GRP was estimated to have decreased by more than $56m, some businesses lost more than $500,000 and the decline in gross tourism expenditure was estimated to be from $92m-$105m, but that is all in the past now.

“We have to kick it now, so we’re really encouraged by the occupancy that we’re seeing,” Mrs Tunnock said.

She said exact numbers vary between properties, with bookings ranging from in the 80-90 per cent region for some venues up to full capacity for others.

“July as an overall month is looking really strong, August is as well, as is September.”

Pool Resort co-owner Heather English said her Port Douglas-based rooms were about 95 per cent booked out for July and August following a late rush just before the school holidays started, including by travellers from Victoria and New Zealand.

“We’re really strong, so July, August, September are up on last year, so we’re doing well,” Mrs English said.