Tourism numbers finally starting to make a splash this year
Shire industry
High season has been delivering for some Douglas Shire tourism operators hit by a slow start to the year as the industry continues to work to recover lost ground since Covid-19.
The region is currently tracking about 10 per cent ahead of last year for the next three months, while resort-specific data has been showing occupancy above 80 per cent for the current period, according to the latest Tourism Port Douglas Daintree figures.
Operators across the district spoken to by Newsport are hoping growth will continue in coming months following several setbacks this year.
The southern side of the Daintree River has been the success story of the past month, with reports of high numbers of visitors at Cassowary Falls and on the crocodile tour boats.
Cassowary Falls guide Bruce Morwood said numbers had been strong, with morning and afternoon tours to the pristine waterfall both proving popular.
“We are the only place in the world where two world heritage-listed areas collide, being the Great Barrier Reef and the wet tropic rainforest, two of the most biodiverse ecosystems in the world, so we are extremely lucky indeed,” Mr Morwood said.
“(We have) a cracker of a swim where we get to pat fish, turtles and eels, it’s really cool.”
In the Daintree Village, Croc Express owner Dean Clapp said his numbers had been excellent.
“Best year since Covid,” Mr Clapp said.
“It’s taken a long time to get back to this stage.
“In general there are more people travelling.
“I travel a lot and it’s certainly way up on what it has been.”
One added positive was the return last week of much-loved croc tour operator Solar Whisper, whose boat was swept away when the river flooded in late March.
Business owner David White raised more than $100,000 during a GoFundMe campaign to get back on the water doing what he loves.
“Thank you to the incredible generosity of the community far and wide, we are back,” Mr White said last week.
In Port Douglas, Macrossan Street has been packed across the past month and operators and resort managers are reporting a steady trade - not setting any records, but not the worst season either, they said.
Windswell owner/operator Brett Wright said the season so far was “more quality than quantity.”
“It’s not as busy as other seasons but we are still doing alright,” he said.
His Mossman River tours have been operating every day and there were also “busloads going north”, which was a real bonus for those operators who had suffered at the start of the year with the flooding and loss of the ferry, he said.
“Last summer was an unprecedented low,” Mr Wright said.
Across the river, operators are still trying to balance the books after the ferry was offline for a month, and now roadworks in preparation for the new ferry next year have been causing some high-season frustrations.
One operator told Newsport the worksite was a “circus” that had “cost myself and many others a fortune”.
“They could have designed the workflow so that the priority lane was unaffected in the six busiest weeks, but no. It does not have to be ready until late 2027,” they said.
“If they do the northside next year in July it will be chaos.”
Douglas Shire Council, however, said last week roadworks were “progressing well”.
“The project remains on track for completion by the end of October,” a DSC spokesman stated.
TPDD executive officer Emma Tunnock said on Tuesday the region was currently tracking about 10 per cent ahead of last year for the next 90 days, while resort-specific data has been showing occupancy above 80 per cent for the current period.
“At the same time, we continue to see shorter booking windows, meaning forward demand can shift quickly and maintaining momentum remains important,” Mrs Tunnock said.
Latest Tourism Research Australia data released for the year to the March quarter showed domestic visitors accounted for more than 80 per cent of estimated overnight visitor expenditure.
“Within our interstate markets, we are seeing some changing dynamics, with NSW continuing to strengthen as a source market while Victoria’s share has softened, despite remaining our largest interstate holiday market.
“TPDD continues to target both markets, building momentum in NSW while driving renewed engagement in Victoria,” she said.
Internationally, the US is our largest market for holiday trips, accounting for about 20 per cent of international holiday trips, while New Zealand has the greatest share of international holiday nights at about 18 per cent.
“Along with the UK and Europe, these remain important international markets for the destination, and TPDD is actively engaged in destination development and trade activity across these markets as we work to grow international visitation, particularly across our low and shoulder seasons.”
