"Vibrant and diverse" tourists bring boost to Port
Trader Views
A younger and more diverse flow of tourists cruising central Port Douglas has meant a strong season for most traders after disappointing returns in recent years.
But not all sectors have fared well, bespoke dining taking a hit with a slow start to the season - the lowest trade rate ever for some of the favourites foodie places in Far North Queensland - and inconsistent business since.
“It was a late start to the season for us and we started with the lowest trade rates ever, lower than after Jasper,’’ Epicurean’s Marlene Erard said.
“It took forever to get a giddy-up.
“What we are finding and hearing in the sector is that it has been very unpredictable. One minute you’re up and the next thing you’re down.”
Marlene said July and August had been good trade months for the bespoke restaurant but it had been a very strange season.
“We’ve only been in the business post Covid, so we don’t know the good old Port Douglas days.’’
Rowan said people had warned them about the lows, but added “when it is low, low, low constantly, it’s hard to navigate”.
“It’s just the way it is,’’ he said.
Nicola Hood said Ngarru Gallery had experienced a good season and she felt Macrossan Street had carried a “lovely busy vibe” throughout the season.
“I feel it has been a pretty good season, bigger than last year but I don’t know if we’re back to pre-Covid numbers yet,’’ she said.
“We had really good international numbers - lots of Kiwis and lots of Canadians - and a lot of return clients.”
There’s been plenty of action and business for the boating and diving sector with Mel Spring of Wavelength saying the high-foot traffic Macrossan Street location of the booking office had given her plenty of insight into just how busy the town was throughout the season.
“It has been really good for us, chocka block everyday,’’ she said.
“We are still quite busy and it is only dropping off slightly looking at the bookings over the next couple of weeks.
“From what we hear, most of the resorts have had good capacity rates.’’
Sparrow’s Paula Espina said she is in need of a rest with the season “definitely being busier than last year’’.
“I noticed it was a younger crowd this season,’’ she said.
“It has been nice compared to other years when after school holidays we have a drop. We didn’t have a big drop off this year… it hasn’t really dropped that much at all so far.”
David Lloyd of Sea Gallery said trade had been busier and more constant for the Macrossan Street gallery compared to the past couple of years.
“Easter was an underperformer and the season hit at Carnivale,’’ he said.
“It has been a good mix of people too. Younger people, more dynamic and family groups. The internationals are here too.
“We’ve been trading on this street for six years and we hadn’t seen the strength of the internationals in that time until this year.
“There were more internationals in wet season last year and that is hopefully a good sign going forward.’’
