GREYHOUND Australia has slashed its fares by up to a third for "hop-on, hop-off" travel between Cairns and Brisbane.

The company says the ‘‘dramatic price structure overhaul’’ is expected to provide a significant boost for tourism in the Cairns region during the traditionally quiet back-to school period.

Greyhound yield manager Helen Beatson said the review meant a marked saving of 33 per cent on travel between Cairns and Townsville.

‘‘This means you’ll pay as little as $59, which is a bargain considering an airline seat on the same route is almost double that price,’’ Ms Beatson said.

‘‘We’re hoping these new savings will entice travellers to visit the Far North in what’s traditionally a lull for tourism.

‘‘There are also major savings between Cairns and smaller centres like Tully, Mission Beach and Innisfail.’’

Ms Beatson said the across-the-board fare overhaul meant Greyhound was now offering some of the best bus bargains
in the country, with discounts of up to 75 per cent on some of its sectors.

‘‘We have significantly rationalised our pricing structure to reflect passenger demands for affordable travel all along the coast,’’ she said.

‘‘The savings apply to every sector between Brisbane and Cairns, from the shortest to the longest. These price cuts will be a particular boon for Queensland tourist centres feeling the impact of the global economic downturn and high Australian dollar.’’

She said the new fares were now a permanent lure for tourists, backpackers and commuters.

‘‘We are committed to regional customers and will make ‘hop-on-hop-off’ trips cheaper for everyone,’’ Ms Beatson said.

‘‘It’s very flexible and the shorter trips can be stitched together to create savings bundles over longer distances, northbound and southbound.’’

Townsville to Cairns has been cut by $29 to $59 while Cairns to Tully is now $23, down from $34, to Mission Beach $29 down from $42 and to Innisfail $26 down from $39.

The move follows the company identifying Cairns as a ‘‘hot spot’’ with the opening of a new-style travel centre in
Abbott St in September. Greyhound also announced an alliance with Virgin Australia to get more than 100,000 backpackers to Cairns each year more easily.

The alliance aims to speed up the Cairns trip for young tourists from major gateways such as Sydney.

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