Community
14 February, 2024
Shire towns need your love
DOUGLAS Shire businesses and locals are encouraging residents of the Far North to ‘make a day’ out of visiting the shire, support the local businesses and tourism industry as they continue on their journey to recovery.
Despite the hardships lived through the last two months, the community of the Douglas Shire keeps rising, with local businesses and tourism operators up and running and eager to receive interstate tourists and FNQ visitors.
Douglas Chamber of Commerce committee member Martin Tranter said the community was looking forward to the return of visitors.
“Tourism is seasonal, so fundamentally the shire was relying upon a really good Christmas period into January to carry them until the next high season which is Easter and the consequences of the Cook Highway being shut has effectively meant that the shire has lost that crop of income. It’s not just the loss of the assets but the loss of income post Jasper,” he said.
“We are now back with business as usual thanks to the sterling efforts of all the contractors to reopen the Captain Cook Highway. The town is open for business and it’s a case of driving up, local visitation from Cairns and Tablelands, and to remind the community that Jasper was just a glitch that happened in 2023, not a lingering effect.
“No one would be more delighted to welcome guests than the Douglas Shire.”
Mr Tranter said this was the time for the Far North residents to lend a hand and reignite tourism in the shire.
“Mossman has been dramatically affected in a way that hadn’t been seen in 100 years, so take the time, drive up there, make a day of it and make a day of visiting the shire again to help us get on our feet in the same way we would do for the Cairns region,” he said.
“The silver lining is that the FNQ community is so resilient, and we look out for each other and, although we rely on the interstate-based trade right now, we need everyone to come up, go to the Mossman Markets, visit Port Douglas, take tours and spend some time and money and in the shire. The community would love to have you back.
“Eventually when Cape Tribulation gets back on its feet that will be even more significant to our tourism. This is about FNQ rallying around FNQ.”
Mr Tranter also encouraged local businesses to continue to pursue financial relief.
