Tourism operators are predicting a sluggish road to recovery, as international passengers arrived in the Sunshine State today for the first time in nearly two years. 

In northern Queensland, local operators say there’s a way to go lure in tourists.

Chairman at Tourism Tropical North Queensland and chairman of the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, Ken Chapman, said it was a long hard slog.

He told Scott Emerson it was time to “get back on the tourism map”.

“I think we sill tart to see tourism numbers, international tourism numbers coming back from around the middle of the year in some number, and gradually building up.”

He said it was a very competitive market, trying to attract visitors and it was a “war” of sorts.

His idea is to train and work with travel guides and re-engage with travel agents, and they basically had to start from scratch.

“We need to be out there training the about Cairns, Great Barrier reef, Queensland, Australia and helping them to sell our product.”

Press PLAY below to hear more of his ideas

Image: Getty iStock