- The Hon Stirling Hinchliffe, Queensland Minister for Tourism, Innovation and Sport and Minister Assisting the Premier on Olympics and Paralympics Sport and Engagement
- Senator Nita Green, Senator for Queensland, Special Envoy for the Great Barrier Reef
More than 300 travel agents who specialise in selling Australia's world class tourism offerings to the world will come together in Cairns in October as part of Tourism Australia's mega event, 'G'Day Australia'.
The internationally recognised familiarisation and workshop event will be delivered by Tourism Australia in partnership with Tourism and Events Queensland and supported by Tourism Tropical North Queensland in Cairns from Monday 9 October to Thursday 12 October 2023.
G'day Australia is held for frontline travel agents who have completed Tourism Australia's innovative online training to become Aussie Specialists and actively sell Australia as a preferred long-haul destination.
This is the first time the event has been held since 2019 and it will provide the Australian tourism industry the opportunity to showcase their products to qualified Aussie Specialist travel agents from North America, UK/Europe, Asia and New Zealand.
The event will provide a boost for the tourism industry in Tropical North Queensland and also more broadly around the country with agents to take part in pre and post event familiarisations.
The agents that take part in G'day Australia leave with inside knowledge that allows them to encourage international visitors to Australia to stay longer and spend more, which will be critical as our tourism industry continues its recovery.
Quotes attributable to Minister Farrell:
"It is great to have events such as G'day Australia returning and, with international tourism continuing to recover, this year's event in Cairns will be more important than ever before.
"While the pandemic brought international tourism to a halt, travellers are now returning to our shores and G'day Australia, combined with Tourism Australia's global campaign, will help to convert that demand for an Australian holiday.
"The Aussie Specialist agents who will visit our country as part of G'day Australia will see our iconic destinations and world class tourism experiences for themselves, which is invaluable experience for those on the frontline selling Australia to travellers around the world."
Queensland Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said:
"Bringing G'day Australia to Cairns is a big opportunity to show international travel agents why Queensland is Australia's favourite holiday destination.
"Cairns is rolling out the red carpet for travel agents with guided tours of the region's awe-inspiring tourism experiences to build bucket list itineraries that bring more overseas visitors Downunder.
"Re-establishing tropical Queensland as Australia's northern overseas visitor gateway is an important part of our plan for post-Covid international tourism recovery.
"The Reef, World Heritage-listed rainforests and the amazing Outback make Queensland the perfect arrival and departure destination for international visitors planning their Australian holiday of a lifetime."
Special Envoy for the Great Barrier Reef, Senator Nita Green:
"We've got incredible natural assets right here on our doorstep, and we can't wait to continue delivering the phenomenal first class experiences our region is known for to our international guests.
"Tourism is a huge employer and large export earner for our region, and this mega event will provide a welcome boost for our tourism industry in Tropical North Queensland.
"Cairns had plenty of international visitors before the pandemic, so it is great to be able to bring this event to the region to show off the Great Barrier Reef to the rest of the world."
