Minister for Innovation and Tourism Industry Development and Minister for the Commonwealth Games: Gl

Global Tourism Hub a step closer for North Queensland

A Global Tourism Hub for Cairns is one step closer as Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones announces the government will go to community consultation today.

Ms Jones said a Global Tourism Hub including a casino was an exciting proposition for the Tropical North Queensland tourism industry but said the government would not proceed without feedback from locals.

"More tourists, staying longer and increasing their visitor spend equals new jobs and investment in Queensland," she said.

"We've seen the benefits of the $3 billion Queen's Wharf Brisbane project and a global tourism hub in Cairns would deliver much-needed tourism infrastructure for North Queensland.

"Cairns was identified as the first cab off the rank with the government's Global Tourism Hub policy - a plan to secure new investment in world-class tourism infrastructure across Queensland."

Ms Jones said aside from the public, the government would also engage with Cairns Regional Council as well as representatives from the tourism, property and development industries.

"While any tropical north global tourism hub, including a casino, could ultimately be inside a 70km radius of Cairns, the government has identified a preferred site - the Cairns City Port precinct," she said.

"A global tourism hub in Cairns, if chosen, would integrate with the state's project to expand the Cairns Convention Centre."

Ms Jones said it was only a Labor government that would support tourism investment in Cairns.

"Tourism in Queensland has flourished under the Palaszczuk Government," she said.

"We know how important a healthy tourism industry is to Queensland's economy.

"That's why we're investing $134 million in this sector to create new attractions and to bring more cruise ships and direct flights to places like Cairns."

The Queensland Government kicked off the project with the release of a Registration of Interest (ROI) process for Tropical North GTH on 30 October 2017.

The ROI is part of a multi-phase procurement process in which entities wishing to be considered for participation in the Expressions of Interest (EOI) process for the delivery of the project are invited to participate.

"Parties interested in being a part of this exciting project can visit the Queensland Government's QTender website. Due to the caretaker period, the ROI process has been extended to 2pm, Tuesday 23 January 2018.