The Daintree River Ferry. Local tourism operators have faced challenges, but the region continues to attract strong international and domestic visitation. Photo: Douglas Shire Council.
Uncertainty over the weather and fuel prices did not deter millions of domestic and international visitors from descending on Far North Queensland through the year ending March 2026, according to the region’s key tourism body.
Tourism Tropical North Queensland’s (TTNQ) Annual Report 2025-26 and 2045 Destination Management Plan were released in recent days and outline wins, challenges and potential for the critical sector.
TTNQ states the first five months of the 2025-26 period resulted in strong visitation, bolstered by international visitor growth driven by the results of the Federal Government’s $15 million investment in the International Tourism Recovery Fund.
“However, December to April were extremely tough for the industry with the weather once again creating uncertainty amplified by the Middle East crisis,” the report states.
When it comes to domestic tourism, 1.7 million visitors spent $2.84 billion in Tropical North Queensland in the year ending March 2026 – 10.4 per cent of state market share.
A member of the United Tableland Pipe Band, which played at the Cooktown Discovery Festival earlier this year. The diverse festival is always a hit with locals, but also draws tourists touring the Far North, and particularly Cape York Peninsula. Photo: Luke Mortimer/Cape York Weekly.
The region was 10th in Australia for overnight holiday spending and 11th for total expenditure. The average length of stay was four nights, with a total of 7.1 million visitor nights and a spend of $1629 per visitor – the highest in the state.
International visitor spend reached a record $1.3bn, increasing by 27.6 per cent from the same period the previous year.
The International Visitor Survey showed spending in Queensland was up 35.2 per cent to $8.2 billion. Figures do not show an impact from the Middle East crisis, which started the previous month.
International visitation and average length of stay also increased. The number of tourists spiked 14.3 per cent to 637,000. They stayed 6.2 million nights (up 23.1 per cent) and enjoyed an average stay of 9.8 nights (up 0.7 per cent, and spent $1976 per visitor – an increase of 11.6 per cent.
The Chinese market had the greatest growth, with a 54.4 per cent increase to 58,000, followed by New Zealand with 45.6 per cent growth to 39,000. The US was the largest source market at 110,000, up 24.7 per cent. Japan was the second largest source market, up 0.7 per cent to 99,000.
There’s more than $295 million worth of tourism investment underway and the record international visitor spend came on the back of four years of extra destination marketing funding, TTNQ states.
A hawksbill sea turtle on the Great Barrier Reef. Ecotourism continues to boom in the Far North. Photo: Chad Taylor/Unsplash.
CEO Mark Olsen and chair John O’Sullivan said the report showed exceptional campaign results.
Mr Sullivan said investment from local, Queensland and Federal governments was critical. Twenty-six per cent of TTNQ’s 2025-26 funding came from Cairns Regional Council. Tourism and Events Queensland chipped in 14 per cent.
“The additional $18 million in federal funding secured by TTNQ since the pandemic to drive international tourism recovery had helped to turn the global spotlight on Tropical North Queensland as the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef,” he said.
“The return on investment in both advertising value and TTNQ generated visitor spend reached $34 of visitor expenditure for every dollar invested by our partners across industry and government.
“This is one of our best results considering the tiny budget we have in comparison to our competitors who outspend us by at least four times.
“Through these federally funded campaigns TTNQ delivered $267.5 million in visitor spend supporting an estimated 1450 extra jobs in our community.
“Our combined campaign activity with five domestic campaigns and 67 international trade campaigns in 2025-26 alone reached our target consumers nearly 50 billion times through our publicity, digital, campaigns and trade activity.
“The results to date are promising with Tropical North Queensland’s international visitor spend reaching a record $1.3 billion in the year ending March 2026, increasing by 27.6 per cent from the same period in the previous year.”
Mr Olsen said record visitor spend from ramping up campaigns combined with the most substantial investment in tourism infrastructure since the construction of the three Crystalbrook hotels showed confidence in the region.
“The Hilton Palm Cove Cairns Resort & Spa is in the final stages before opening, and work is underway on the $60 million Skyhaven accommodation at Cairns Airport and the $85 million Skyrail Rainforest Cableway upgrade,” he said.
“The Morris Group’s $40 million redevelopment of Double Island is also among the surge in interest by developers who are sensitive with scale to the landscape which is ideal for the only place on earth where two natural World Heritage areas are side by side.
“Ecotourism is at the heart of the visitor economy in Tropical North Queensland and is continuing to grow … ”
The TTNQ board has ticked off the 2045 plan and hopes it will position the region as key in helping Queensland achieve its tourism aspirations. It was developed with more than 230 stakeholders and 32 regional workshops.
Douglas Shire Mayor Lisa Scomazzon, property developer John Morris, Tourism Port Douglas Daintree executive officer Emma Tunnock and Cook MP David Kempton meeting about a major new marine facility at Port Douglas earlier this year. Photo: Luke Mortimer/Cape York Weekly.
“Our goal is to reach our stretch target of $10 billion by driving growth in visitor spend and length of stay to surpass our 2045 forecast of $8.6 billion,” Mr Olsen said.
“With a vision for Tropical North Queensland to be Australia’s number one ecotourism region by 2045 and a world leader in adventure and regenerative tourism supporting thriving local communities, the plan is a managed approach to tourism growth.
“The key to Tropical North Queensland’s success as a tourism destination will be growing the type of tourism our communities seek which means attracting visitors who are conscious of their impact and leave as custodians of our region and its stories.
“Our communities want tourism that recognises our First Nations connection, plays an active role in sustainable and regenerative tourism practices, respects culture and communities with authentic connection, supports an inclusive and accessible industry with a skilled local workforce, and delivers truly remarkable visitor experiences.”
The Daintree – a major tourism drawcard – is estimated to be up to 180 million years old. Photo: Martijn Vonk/Unsplash.
Original Article published by Luke Mortimer on Region Tropical North Queensland.
