Capricorn Caves attraction among 50 Queensland visitor experiences to receive funding

Capricorn Caves, one of Queensland’s original visitor attractions, is among 50 visitor experiences to receive funding from the State’s $15 million Tourism Experience Development initiative.

Capricorn Caves will use the funding to upgrade its accessibility.

The combined value of the 50 proposed new and updated tourism experiences is approximately $56 million.

QLD Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the initiative was part of Queensland’s response to the Tourism Industry Reference Panel’s Action Plan for tourism recovery.

Minister Hinchliffe advised “since the pandemic visitors have sought out more of Queensland’s unique natural attractions but with a much lighter tourism impact.

“A hybrid-electric powered Great Barrier Reef catamaran is one of the projects we’re getting behind with $200,000 toward the boat’s $3.2 million construction cost.

“The 24-metre Eco Cat will be the Tropical North’s first hybrid-electric tour boat with fewer environmental and noise impacts on the reef.”

18 ecotourism projects are being supported by the Tourism Experience Development Fund including:

• Four eco-cabins, four glamping experiences and common use infrastructure at the High Valley Dawn farm-stay near Yeppoon

• Sea World Cruises’ underwater audio-visual system for immersive whale watching experiences on a smartphone app, and

Funding support has also been approved for an innovative vertical fine dining restaurant above the Brisbane Powerhouse featuring eight tables, mounted four stories high.

Minister Hinchliffe said the Tourism Experience Development initiative had funded up to a quarter of individual project costs to a maximum of $200,000.

“This initiative is helping operators bring bright ideas to life and build back better for Queensland’s tourism recovery.

“As the Action Plan for Tourism Recovery has found, to remain a cutting-edge relevant international destination we need to continually reimagine and reinvent.”

Image: Capricorn Caves