THE Far North now has an $8 million war chest to battle for our tourism market after the Federal Government agreed to match the state's recovery money.

The news was welcomed with relief by Tourism Minister and Cairns MP Desley Boyle who secured the pledge from her federal counterpart, Martin Ferguson, at a high-level meeting in Brisbane yesterday.

"We have been hammering Mr Ferguson’s office since Thursday so it doesn’t really come as a surprise but it’s very welcome and we feel energised and relieved," Ms Boyle said last night.

The new money will allow a joint industry-government working party to top up a planned marketing assault on key domestic and international markets. Cash incentives will be used to lure new and existing airlines to fill the gap when Qantas and Jetstar withdraw flights between Cairns and Japan in December.

Ms Boyle also announced she would head a delegation to China, and possibly Japan and Hong Kong, where many airlines are headquartered, as early as next week in a concerted bid to "woo" Asian carriers to Cairns.

"In particular, I’ll be asking the people at Tourism Tropical North Queensland to come with me but it would also be good if some of the local operators are willing to come to provide a more specific and more compelling case," the minister said.

Tourism Australia managing director Geoff Buckley flew into Cairns yesterday afternoon for urgent talks with about 20 local hotel and tour providers.

He said early talks had already been held with existing and new airlines and they would continue.

"In the short-term we may need to do some tactical work like charters," Mr Buckley said.

"We need to ensure the (tourism) infrastructure here stays viable. That’s the critical thing."

Some recovery money would be used to nurture niche markets such as weddings or golf tourism.

Share this article