Western Cape Eco Tours owner Malcolm Slack is urging tourists not to cancel their travel plans because of the looming closure of the Jardine River ferry for maintenance, and says there is still plenty for visitors to see and experience across Cape York. Photo: Facebook (Western Cape Eco Tours).
It may cover almost 150,000 square kilometres, but tourism operators from across the diverse Cape York landscape are uniting to get a single message heard by the estimated 100,000 visitors who head north each dry season: we are still open for business.
In the wake of cancellations from panicked tourists to the news the Jardine River ferry would be pulled out of the water for critical maintenance from 23 April-23 May – the start of the annual dry season convoy of southern visitors – businesses from Weipa to Cooktown to Bamaga have started a social media campaign in an attempt to ward off a remote economic crisis.
Western Cape Eco Tours boss Malcolm Slack urged visitors not to put off their northern road trip and said there were still myriad incredible places to explore around the Cape, including Weipa, Lockhart River, Portland Roads, Mapoon, Pennefather Beach, Fruit Bat Falls and Eliot Falls.
“Please just come up,” he said.
“We need these people to be coming into town to keep these businesses ticking over.
“It’s frustrating; we’re now trying to chase up other work locally that will fill in the gaps, which is a tough ask, too.”
And his plea to tourists?
“Don’t put off your trip just yet – let’s give it another couple of weeks and see if we can get this thing sorted, and hopefully have a great season,” Mr Slack said.
In the Northern Peninsula Area, Cape York Camping Punsand Bay general manager Kahlia Colquhoun said logistics for getting visitors north of the Jardine River would be difficult during the closure but echoed the sentiment that the region was “absolutely still open for business”.
“While we are adapting due to the current ferry restrictions, we’re staying hopeful and proactive,” she said.
“We’re asking all travellers with upcoming trips to hold off just a little longer before making cancellations or changes.
“What we need right now is continued support; please don’t write Cape York off – adjust your plans if you can, come a little later in the season, and know that we’ll be ready to welcome you with open arms.
“Cape York is still open – support local, delay don’t cancel, and come enjoy our slice of paradise.
“We can’t wait to see you soon.”
NPA tourism operators, like the Cape York Camping Punsand Bay team, are ready to roll out the welcome mat to visitors for another season – they’ll just need to find another way to the northernmost part of the state between 23 April-23 May while the embattled Jardine River ferry is out of action. Photo: Supplied.
