Page 20 - Tropic Magazine Issue 13

INDUSTRY • TOURISM

Boom and bus bus services, with schedules remaining

the same and any pre-purchased tickets
Local tourism legends CaPTA being honored. School bus tickets will
expand with purchase of a local be available for purchase at the Wildlife
bus company. Habitat Sanctuary.
“We’re thrilled by this acquisition, as it will
The run of acquisitions in the tourism tie in with some exciting developments set
industry continues with CaPTA Group to occur at Wildlife Habitat,” Mr Woodward
buying Coral Reef Coaches in a deal that said. “Furthermore, it will round out the
will bolster CaPTA’s transport arm Tropic ‘Port Douglas Trips’ side of ‘Cairns and Port
Wings by 19 vehicles. Trips & Attractions’.’’
CaPTA managing director Peter Pia McKeown, owner-manager of
Woodward also foreshadowed further Coral Reef Coaches, said the family will
investment in the company’s transport concentrate on other business interests
division, saying more vehicles will be after finding the “right buyers” for the
added to the fleet over time. Its Tropic coach company.
Revenue raising Wings division now operates around “We have found another family business
40 vehicles. that can continue to invest and provide
Cairns is the second-best Coral Reef Coaches has been servicing the a high level of services throughout the
performing hotel market in Tropical North for more than 40 years with region,” she said.
the nation, according to recent charters, shuttles and school runs. CaPTA Group is locally owned and
research released by advisory The purchase follows a string of operated by the Woodward family, with
firm Savills. RevPAR (revenue acquisitions in recent years, including operations including Rainforestation
per available room) in Cairns buy-outs of local companies like Raging Nature Park, Tropic Wings Coach Tours,
was up by 6.9% in the year to Thunder, Great Barrier Reef Helicopters, Jungle Tours & Trekking, The Wildlife
March, a higher growth rate Cairns Coconut Holiday Resort and Big Cat Habitat, Cairns ZOOM and Wildlife
than Sydney, Melbourne, and Green Island Reef Cruises. Dome, Australian Butterfly Sanctuary,
the Gold Coast.
Mr Woodward said the acquisition ABC Sales & Maintenance and Careers
would result in minimal disruption to Training Centre.
REVPAR GROWTH
Island dreaming

Darwin / 18.3%
Fitzroy Island seeks investment
partner for multi-million-dollar
Cairns / 6.9%
redevelopment.
The family owners of Fitzroy Island have
Gold Coast / 6.5%
launched a call for an investment partner
willing to tip in millions of dollars to create
National average / 3.9% a hub of environmental tourism. Centre to be a world-class facility that
Managing director Doug Gamble said incorporates the Reef Restoration
he has engaged a real estate agent to Foundation’s work to accelerate the
Sydney / 1.7%
represent Fitzroy Island in a quest for recovery of damaged high-value reefs.
an investment partner, which could be a “The environment is a key attraction for
Melbourne / 0.4% bank or private equity investor. Tropical North Queensland and Fitzroy
Mr Gamble said the investment partner Island is very much a part of that offering.
would help his family develop a world- “We are already playing a role in
class turtle and environmental centre preserving that environment through the
and expand the island’s accommodation turtle rehabilitation centre and the coral
and facilities as part of a 10-year vision nursery and we would like to develop
Source: Savills for the island. that further.
“We are currently rolling out a $2.5 million “Travellers are excited by environmental
refurbishment of the existing rooms in tourism and eager to learn more about
preparation for this next phase which will the ecosystems they visit.
provide different levels of accommodation “The time is right for this exciting period
for new and existing markets,” he said. of growth for our family-owned company
“People primarily come to Fitzroy Island for with major investment underway in
an island experience and are surprised to tourism infrastructure in Cairns.
find we are home to a turtle rehabilitation We want to be a part of this growth and
centre and the Great Barrier Reef’s first play our role in generating additional jobs
offshore coral nursery. for the community and providing a boost
“We want the Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation to local suppliers and contractors.”

20 • Tropic • Issue 13