General News
2 April, 2023
Free flights in $3m package
EIGHT tourism businesses have joined forces to fund 10,000 return economy tickets – worth more than $3 million – to lure more Australian holiday makers to the tropical north.
The 5000 twin share tickets are provided when buyers book a five-day, four-night travel package, worth $1499 per person, and include a Cairns Aquarium visit and dinner, a full day on Skyrail Rainforest Cableway and Kuranda Scenic Rail, a day’s Great Barrier Reef scuba diving and snorkelling experience and a day with Billy Tea Safari Cape Tribulation or Outback Queensland luxury 4WD experience.
Guests stay at the Novotel Oasis resort with breakfast included. Cairns Aquarium founder and chief executive Daniel Leipnik said the flights were a collaboration of the aquarium, Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, Kuranda Scenic Rail, Down Under Cruise and Dive, Billy Tea Safaris, Dundees Restaurant, Novotel Oasis and Virgin Australia.
“The ‘flights are on us’ offering is part of a major tourism drive to grow Tropical North Queensland as one of Australia’s most visited and loved holiday destinations,” he said.
The tickets are spread out among Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, with specific travel dates of May 9-June 22, October 11-December 14 and January 16 -February 15 next year. It is expected the promotion will generate up to $30m for the region’s economy and will sell out fast.
“The ‘Explore Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef’ campaign has been designed to provide holiday makers with an incredible jam-packed adventure to experience the best of the Reef, rainforest, the Outback, major nature attractions, guided tours and even a unique aquatic dining experience,” Mr Leipnik said.
“Visitor numbers to Cairns have surged since January 2022 to near record levels. In 2022, over 2.5 million visitors passed through the Cairns Airport, many experiencing Cairns for the very first time.
“The city’s key tourism operators are keen to ensure that even more Australians have access to the northern city as the gateway to the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef and Wet Tropics rainforest,” he said.
“With ever increasing costs affecting day to day living, these tourism operator funded return flights will come as a welcome relief to many couples planning their next getaway and looking for an unbeatable deal.”
To buy an “Explore Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef” package and receive return airline tickets email bookings@ cairnsaquarium.com.au or go to www.cairnsaquarium.com.au
