Page 17 - Tropic Magazine Issue 33

TROPIC • TOURISM

Opening up
Tourism and hospitality businesses Tourism Tropical North Queensland
WORKFORCE have been rushing to fill staff rosters in CEO Mark Olsen said while the certainty
preparation for an influx of interstate will drive the push to have 90 per cent of
The tourism industry is visitors as borders reopen to fully eligible Queenslanders vaccinated for a
celebrating the reopening vaccinated people. According to online restart of international tourism, it will
of domestic borders, while jobs portal Seek, the industry has the lead to more job vacancies.
grappling with the challenges highest level of workforce shortages “Businesses will need some assistance
in the Cairns and Far North
to manage the transition,” he said.
that accompany free movement Queensland region. 298 tourism and “We have to accept some staff will
for the vaccinated. hospitality jobs were being advertised not want to be vaccinated which
when Tropic went to print, compared with could exacerbate predicted
Words: Renee Cluff
266 in the trades and services sector, and workforce shortages.”
114 in retail. The Queensland Government’s Work
The greatest demand was for chefs and in Paradise Incentive Scheme, which
cooks, with 71 positions advertised, provides cash benefits of up to $1500
followed by management jobs, to people who take up tourism and
housekeeping and wait staff. hospitality jobs, is scheduled to end in
However, the pool of potential candidates March 2022. Interrupted by lockdowns
has also been reduced under the in southern states, the initiative has
Queensland Government’s latest round dished out less than half of the
of COVID-19 regulations. $7.5 million budgeted for.
Effective from December 17, or earlier However, there is a chance it will be
dependent on the its 80 per cent extended. A spokesman for the State
vaccination target, unvaccinated people – Department of Tourism, Innovation and
including both patrons and staff Sport told Tropic the industry’s workforce
– are banned from entering a huge range needs will be reassessed before Work in
of venues, including pubs, cafes and bars. Paradise is wound down.
Even business owners who are against
vaccinations are locked out of their 1. Credit: Sailaway Port Douglas
own venues. 2. Credit: Australian Tours and Cruises

Port Douglas’ Sailaway Island and Reef Tours, and Mena Creek’s
Paronella Park were recently given gold awards by the Queensland
Tourism Industry Council. Sailaway was named the best Tour and
Transport Operator, while the Spanish rainforest castle received the
People’s Choice Award.
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Road trips THE BLOOMFIELD TRACK
Cape Tribulation to Cooktown
Recommended time 3 days
Tourism Tropical North Queensland Experience Black Mountain, the Lion’s
has recently launched its Drive North Den, Emmagen Creek swimming hole
Queensland website. The Tropic team and the James Cook Museum
picked three of its favourite itineraries.
THE SAVANNAH WAY
THE WATERFALL CIRCUIT Cairns to Lawn Hill
Cairns to the Atherton Tablelands Recommended time 8 days
Recommended time 1 day Experience Undara Lava Tubes,
Experience Lake Barrine, Yungaburra, Mt Surprise, Talaroo Hot Springs,
Millaa Millaa, Zillie and Ellinjaa Falls Cobbold Gorge and Karumba
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MORE: drivenorthqueensland.com.au

17 • tropicnow.com.au