Page 16 - Tropic Magazine Issue 32

TROPIC • TOURISM

Travel ready

BOUNCE BACK
Cairns is among the top
destinations for Australian
travellers when borders reopen. 1
Words: Renee Cluff

Greater freedoms are on the horizon as to less than 20 per cent occupancy due to Cash to splash
the country races towards vaccination ongoing restrictions in southern states. On average, Australians
targets for COVID-19, and lockdown- General Manager Ian Pirodon said the are planning to spend
fatigued Australians are dreaming of recently refurbished hotel is ready to
Cairns. Research by NAB has revealed welcome guests back.
that one in two Australians are looking $4,000
forward to a holiday in the next year, on their next holiday
with 80 per cent planning domestic trips.
Respondents also picked Queensland as We’re looking forward to Source: NAB
the number one destination of choice,
with Cairns and the Gold Coast the the time when our hotel is oasis and all that Cairns has to offer.”
favoured locations. humming again Ms Raso is now urging the local
NAB’s Far North Queensland Business community to continue getting
Banking Executive, Elisha-Vi Raso, Ian Pirodon, vaccinated. “We don’t want to lag behind
said it’s positive news the region General Manager or be seen as undesirable to visit because
The Benson Hotel
needed. “Cairns has been hit hard by the of our vaccination rates,” she said.
pandemic and it’s heartening to know “We are a community of travellers and we
there is some light ahead for our region, “Due to lockdowns, bookings from need to be able to operate in our normal
especially those in the tourism and interstate guests have dried up way for us all to thrive, with vaccination
hospitality sectors,” she said. “Cairns is completely or been cancelled at the the best way forward.”
at the top of the destination list – which last minute,” he said.
although as a lifetime local I might sound “It makes it really hard to plan staff 1. The Benson Hotel, Cairns
biased – doesn’t surprise me. Far North rosters and have the right amount of
Queensland is just spectacular.” catering on hand. It will be amazing to MORE: nab.com.au
The Benson Hotel has seen bookings fall see happy guests enjoying our poolside

The most popular regional tourism destinations
Source: NAB

Queensland Western Australia
Cairns, Gold Coast Broome, the South West,
the Kimberleys
New South Wales
South Coast, North Coast, and Albany
Blue Mountains Northern Territory
Alice Springs,
Victoria
Gippsland, the Alpine region, the Centre and Uluru
Central Victoria and the Tasmania
Great Ocean Road Central Highlands
South Australia
Kangaroo Island,
Yorke Peninsula,
the Barossa, Flinders Ranges

16 • Tropic • Issue 32