The Townsville North Queensland region is experiencing substantial growth across its tourism sector, with the region being recently recognised as the fastest growing domestic tourism destination in Australia according to Tourism Research Australia (YE June 2024).

Each year North Queensland hosts around 1.3 million overnight visitors which provides the region with around $1.2 billion in visitor expenditure. The regions tourism and event sector supports 6,593 jobs and contributes $581M annually to the gross regional product and the pipeline of projects set to launch in the tourism space displays the market confidence for investment.

Townsville Airport to Ascend with Increased Visitors

The Townsville Airport serves as a vital gateway for trade and tourism, driving substantial economic and social development in the North Queensland region. Currently, the airport accommodates around 1.6 million passengers annually, and projected to reach 3.8 million over the next 20 years. Looking ahead, the airport is planning for the return of international services over the coming years. During the initial stages, international passenger numbers are expected to be around 64,000, with the potential to grow to 122,500 over the next two decades.

Cruise Capacity Triples

The Port of Townsville is currently undergoing a $1.6 billion Port Expansion Project which is a long-term development plan for the port. The recently completed stage 1, the channel widening project, will now allow ships up to 300 meters in length to access the Port. The 2025 cruise season is expected to see around 32,000 passengers and 15,300 crew members, which is nearly triple the numbers from 2024. 

Events Capital of the North 

Townsville North Queensland is home to Northern Australia's best events calendar and the addition of the $250 million Queensland Country Bank Stadium in the heart of Townsville City.  

Industry Investment 

Significant private investment has been made in the North Queensland region with the $450 million Morris Escapes North Queensland collection, which offers a suite of luxurious, sustainable tourism experiences. The most recent addition to the collection includes the completion of the $88 million Ardo Hotel, Townsville's first five-star accommodation venue.