Tourism industry to rebuild after Cyclone Debbie

The tourism industry of the Whitsundays and surrounding region is set to rebuild after massive damage inflicted by Tropical Cyclone Debbie.

The cyclone, which cut through the region on Monday and Tuesday last week, has created a major task of cleaning-up and rebuilding at resorts including Hamilton Island, Daydream Island and Airlie Beach.

At Airlie Beach, the town is still facing major logistical problems with a lack of water and electricity while the town’s popular lagoon has reportedly been filled with sewage.

Whitsunday Regional Council - which covers Airlie Beach, Bowen, Proserpine, Hamilton Island and Daydream Island - has urged residents “DO NOT drink water from tap” in an emergency alert overnight.

The council wrote on its disaster and emergency Facebook page “in the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Debbie, Whitsunday Regional Council advises all residents that when water is restored to their area it may be discoloured and contain bacteria levels above normal standards.”

The Hamilton Island resort is facing a lengthy period of rebuilding but has announced it will be partly reopened for business next Saturday after having faced the full force of the cyclone.

Hamilton Island Chief Executive Glenn Bourke yesterday told almost 600 staff of the massive task ahead to clean-up and rebuild the island resort.

Bourke addressed a packed community meeting of the island’s nearly 2000 staff and 500 residents and business owners, telling those assembled “what we’ve already proven is we’re a tough and resilient community who in the Australian vernacular are always here to help a mate,.

“We want to celebrate the fact we had no loss of life, celebrate the actions of so many of you, and celebrate the resilience we have shown.”

Hamilton Island owner Sandy Oatley, whose family bought the resort for about $200 million in 2003 and spent $350 million on its redevelopment, has been on the island in the cyclone’s aftermath and guaranteed no staff will lose their jobs.

Luxury Qualia resort will be shut down for two months and be completely refurbished with its hotels fully occupied and fully operational by August in the week before Hamilton Island Race Week.

Collaborative efforts are also backing the rebuilding of the tourism industry in the cyclone affected areas.

In a statement released on Friday, Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) Chief Executive Daniel Gschwind stated “over the past few days, QTIC has received countless calls and emails from our industry right across Queensland offering their support to our colleagues in the Whitsunday and Mackay regions.

“We’ve heard from the University of Queensland, offering their expertise and strategies in tourism marketing recovery and Caravanning Australia have informed us about a significant campaign they are preparing to launch.”

Commenting on the photograph above, Gschwind added “the evocative photo above was taken by Rebina Criddel at Cape Hillsborough Nature Resort.

“The team at the resort, like many other operators have been working tirelessly cleaning up their property and encouraging the wonderful local wildlife back down to the beautiful beach so visitors can also enjoy such a special moment like the one captured this morning.”

Image: Cape Hillsborough Nature Resort recovers from Tropical Cyclone Debbie. Courtesy Rebina Criddel/QTIC.

29th March 2017 - QUEENSLAND TOURISM INDUSTRY RALLIES FOLLOWING CYCLONE DEBBIE 

7th September 2016 - HAMILTON ISLAND WILDLIFE CULL SPARKS SOCIAL MEDIA FURY 

9th May 2016 - PEAK INDUSTRY BODY PAYS TRIBUTE TO VOLUNTEERS IN QUEENSLAND’S TOURISM INDUSTRY 

27th August 2015 - BIG4 AIRLIE COVE RESORT AQUATIC PLAY AREA PROVES A POPULAR ATTRACTION

26th February 2015 - QUEENSLAND TOURISM BEGINS POST-CYCLONE MARCIA RECOVERY 

24th February 2015 - SUNSHINE RETURNS TO SUNSHINE COAST AS REGION ESCAPES WORST OF CYCLONE MARCIA’S FURY 

2nd February 2015 - CHINESE INVESTORS BUY DAYDREAM ISLAND