REPAIRING OUR REGION A YEAR FROM CYCLONE DEBBIE
– With Al Grundy, Explore Whitsundays and Chair of Tourism Whitsundays
Photo: Tourism Whitsundays
The year has started positively for Tourism in the Whitsundays.
There is excitement about the opening of the new short walk and viewing platform at Langford Island. The walk features a mature Whitsunday Bottle Tree, which is a native to the catchment and islands of the Whitsunday area. Thanks to Damien Head and the team at Queensland National Parks for quickly progressing the approvals and construction of this new walk for visitors to the Whitsundays.
Works should be completed by the end of June 2018, with new walks on Border Island and Haselwood Island. A new walk and viewing platform has been approved for construction at South Whitehaven Beach and further information on completion dates will be forthcoming.
The Tourism Recovery successful grant applicants should be announced by the end of March 2018. Grants are for tourism infrastructure projects in the local area.
Visitor numbers have held well through January and February. The January school holiday period was backed up with the arrival of the Clipper around the World Yacht Race yachts, which spent 16 days in the Whitsundays. On the back of the Clipper event, the Chinese New Year bought visitors in during February.
Weather has also been kind, and while we have had a few days of heavy rain, overall the summer weather has allowed the marine tourism operators to continue services for visitors into the Marine Park.
We look forward to future tourism updates, with thanks to Al for providing his insight!
