Tourism Tropical North Queensland

23/10/2026

The former Chairman of Tourism Australia and Tourism and Events Queensland Bob East has been appointed Chair of Tourism Tropical North Queensland (TTNQ) at the Annual General Meeting today. Bob is the Chair of Experience Co (ASX:Exp), Australian Venue Co, Leisure Accommodation Collective and the Gold Coast Suns. With a group of passionate tourism operators, he created the Mantra Group and developed it into the largest Australian-based accommodation provider before leading the company to a successful ASX listing and its acquisition by Accor.

He replaces outgoing Chair John O’Sullivan who completed a three-year term steering TTNQ through the post-pandemic recovery phase the organisation reshaped to play a key role in the international recovery for Australia.

Chief Marketing Officer of the Cairns Adventure Group Lisa Chambers and inbound cruise operator Shorex Australia founder James Coughlan were elected to the two vacant TTNQ Board positions from a field of seven nominations.

22/10/2026

TTNQ’s Harriet Ganfield and Sam Sakamoto were joined by eight TTNQ members at Tourism Australia's G'Day Australia event in Darwin last week. Together they met 300 qualified Aussie Specialist retail agents from all over the world. Many agents were visiting Australia for the first time, and Team TNQ showed them the region's experiences and latest product updates.

21/10/2026

TTNQ hosted German travel journalist and photographer Harald Braun in Kuranda before he began his self-drive itinerary through Cairns, Palm Cove, Cape Tribulation, the Atherton Tablelands, Mission Beach and Dunk Island, with three articles commissioned for the trip. Along the way, Harald visited 26 operators across the region, showcasing Tropical North Queensland’s local personalities, food, unique attractions, accommodation, natural beauty and relaxed lifestyle.

20/10/2026

TTNQ’s Kath Cutler and Tourism Port Douglas Daintree’s Emma Tunnock joined Tourism and Events Queensland’s inaugural Destination Development Roadshow across North America taking in eight cities in the US and Canada. Showcasing TNQ itineraries, destination highlights, must-do experiences and standout accommodation, the roadshow delivered 73 contact hours through one-on-one appointments, presentations, hosted events and webinars. Engagement included 19 tour operator brands, two events reaching more than 500 travel advisors, airline partner connections and discussions with four group series partners, creating valuable opportunities for TTNQ members.

Discussions also highlighted the importance of highly experiential travel, easy-to-package itineraries and distinctive experiences that create meaningful connections with visitors to Queensland. The US remains TNQ’s largest international market, with 109,000 visitors, up 21.8%, highlighting the opportunity to build on this growth and strengthen engagement across North America.

19/10/2026

Five journalists from Germany, Switzerland and Italy explored Tropical North Queensland on an eight-day famil hosted by TTNQ and Singapore Airlines. Visiting 29 operators across Cairns, Palm Cove, Port Douglas, Cape Tribulation, Cooktown, Hope Vale, the Atherton Tablelands, Mission Beach and Dunk Island, the group discovered the region’s incredible diversity, from tropical coastlines and lush rainforests to remote destinations, while meeting many passionate local operators along the way. The journey also included a 4WD adventure along the iconic Bloomfield Track.

16/10/2026

Constructive conversations were held in Canberra yesterday on the working Holiday Maker issue. Member for Leichhardt Matt Smith hosted a delegation of industry representatives to meet with Federal Government representatives to start the conversation about Tropical North Queensland’s workforce needs.

14/10/2026

There’s something new coming to Tourism Week! Introducing EventsQ, a dedicated forum on November bringing Queensland’s events industry together to explore what’s next. Hear from global and local industry leaders, including Martin Green, whose experience spans London 2012, Birmingham 2022 and Eurovision. You’ll also hear Queensland perspectives on what’s next for the sector and connect with event organisers, destinations, venues, suppliers, government and industry partners from across the state. EventsQ is free to attend, but registrations are essential. Register today: https://www.qtic.com.au/tourism-week/eventsq/

13/10/2026

TTNQ hosted writers from travel publications Dream and Get Lost showcasing Indigenous experiences and the rainforest to complement their Reef Discovery Day with Reef Magic. They enjoyed FNQ Nature Tours, Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre, Walkabout Cultural Adventures, Daintree Ecolodge and Thala Beach Nature Reserve.

13/10/2026

Help is available for tourism businesses to adopt AI through the Queensland Government’s Tourism AI Adoption Program with 130 subsidised spots available. It includes an individual AI health check for your business, personalised mentoring and a tailored plan for your business. The full value of this program delivered by Tourism Tribe is $1810, however, successful participants will pay just $200. Applications close on 10 November.

Boost your digital visibility and streamline operations with the Queensland Tourism AI Adoption Program. Get practical support to make your business AI-ready.

12/10/2026

Understand how to navigate workforce shortages through the PALM scheme at the free Queensland Tourism Industry Council webinar on Tuesday 13 October 11-11.45am. The webinar will equip businesses experiencing ongoing recruitment challenges with practical information to assess whether the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme is suitable for your workforce needs.
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