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to jumping in a taxi outside the airport – just 22 minutes . This time , Cairns airport managed to beat that – just 20 minutes . One of the bonuses of arriving internationally at a regional airport . |
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the event . Cairn ’ s business events infrastructure is just a 10-minute drive from Cairns Airport and accommodation is within walking distance of the Convention Centre , restaurants and the marina . Tourism and Events Queensland was another key partner in the blue ribband programme , and CEO Patricia O ’ Callaghan said that the state was looking to grow its international overnight visitor expenditure to A $ 11bn by 2032 . “ We not only have world-class destinations but world-class facilities , and we are proud to be able to showcase Queensland as an ideal incentives travel destination in the lead-up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games . “ Tourism and Events Queensland ’ s |
Business Events strategy sees us aiming to achieve 20 % of the Australian market share by 2027 , a growth of 4 % which will bolster our international visitor numbers ,” O ’ Callaghan said . The airline partners for Australia Next this year were Singapore Airlines and Qantas . Our UK group got to experience one of four weekly Singapore Airlines flights from London Heathrow ( SA also runs three flights from Gatwick now ), and connecting to many points Asia and Australia . If you are able to fly Business Class , Singapore Airlines offers a ‘ Book the Cook ’ service , which means you can preselect gourmet meals for your journey . My own previous trip on Singapore Airlines had set a personal record for time from de-planing ( with large suitcase ) |
Left : Down to one-toone business at the Cairns Convention Centre on Day 1
Left : Delegates getting involved in releasing a turtle back into the ocean
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Exploring two UNESCO World Heritage sites I was also part of the UK group on the trip to the Great Barrier Reef
The short cruise by private charter catamaran with Reef Magic was a little choppy , but the 90-minute journey brought us speedily to the Moore Reef Pontoon and , once aboard , most of the team plunged straight into diving and snorkelling at the reef . We watched a rescued turtle set free again after lengthy treatment due to pollution , and also helped make some special frames for repairing the coral reef itself .
The highlight , for me at least , was being choppered above the reef to film and get a real bird ’ s eye view of the many species living there , including sharks , rays and large and small fish of all kinds and colours . Marine botanists were on hand to explain and guide our glass-bottomed boat tours as we gazed in wonder at this brave blue world . The experience is a truly unique potential ‘ add-on ’ for any marine biology or maritime industry conference delegates .
A parallel group of delegates from Asia also spent the day in the ‘ other ’ World Heritage Site in the state : the Tropical Rainforest . We compared experiences at the evening reception at The Sugar Shed at Yorkeys Knob Cane Farm , a rural Queensland venue but with modern event facilities and plenty of locally produced food and drink .
One of our land-based lunches during the tour was at the Trinity Beach Palace , a beachfront estate just outside Cairns , where tropical gardens provide an amazing backdrop for receptions and corporate events . Our hosts served up local aboriginal culture and cuisine , all of which can also be incorporated into a special event . And we all came away with a book of bush tucker recipes to knock I ’ m
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