Move over Bali and Hawaii: The Whitsunday Islands are back in business

• Video
• Image

Whitsundays create giant Welcome Back sign on Whitehaven Beach1:29

A symbol of the industry?s readiness to welcome back travellers from both near and far, the beach towel message is a timely invitation for visitors to return to the Whitsundays less than a month on from Tropical Cyclone Debbie.

• April 27th 2017
• 3 days ago

Everyone’s welcome: The Whitsundays is back in business.

GRAB your beach towel, leave your passport at home - it’s time to head back to the Whitsundays.

A month since Cyclone Debbie hit the region, causing widespread destruction and forcing many resorts to close, tourism operators have banded together to declare the islands back in business.

More than 150 Whitsundays tourism operators this week descended on Whitehaven Beach to roll out their beach towels and deliver an epic “welcome back” message to holiday-makers.

And rival resort islands around the world have been put on notice.

“It’s time for Bali, Greece, Hawaii and Croatia to move over — the Whitsundays should be everyone’s dream destination this winter!” said Tourism Whitsundays CEO Craig Turner.

WHAT YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT AUSSIE ISLANDS

DEAR DEBBIE: QUEENSLAND’S HEARTWARMING LETTER

AUSTRALIA’S BEST BEACHES REVEALED

$49 FLIGHTS TO AUSTRALIA’S BEST BEACH

The Whitsundays is welcoming visitors again after Cyclone Debbie.Source:Supplied

Although some resorts, such as Daydream Island and One&Only Hayman Island, remain closed, Mr Turner said the majority of the Whitsundays was now open.

“The whole town cannot wait to welcome back travellers and to watch them, __like many before them, fall in love with the region,” he said.

“It’s important the world knows that most hotels have opened their doors, tours are back on the water and the sun is again shining on the Whitsundays.

“Whitehaven Beach, voted one of the top 10 in the world, is ready for people to unfurl their own beach towel on.”

Tourism operators at the iconic Whithaven Beach on Whitsunday Island.Source:Supplied

Mr Turner said visitors to the region this year could expect a raft of new experiences.

“In the last six months Airlie Beach has opened several new products including the five-star boutique Heart Hotel, a multimillion-dollar renovation to the iconic Club Crocodile and new Tigerair flights direct into the region,” he said.

“Meanwhile, BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort, which reopened last week, is looking forward to the arrival of eight new cabins and a brand new waterslide park very shortly.”

Jan Claxton of Ocean Rafting Whitsundays said the reopening of many tourism businesses had generated an exciting buzz within the industry.

“Sailing, flying or rafting around the Whitsundays, snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef and visiting postcard perfect locations are bucket-list items for so many people — with balmy weather ahead of us, now is the perfect time to holiday at home and tick these items off your list,” she said.

Everyone’s welcome: The Whitsundays is back in business.Source:Supplied

James Spicer from Explore Whitsundays said morale was very important to the town.

“We want Australia — and the world — to remember that the Whitsundays is a great destination; it’s cheaper than flying overseas and by holidaying here you are helping those in your backyard.”

Tourism and Events Queensland CEO Leanne Coddington said the community depended on tourism.

“The best way to support the industry is to take a holiday at home and see first-hand the unrivalled tourism experiences ready for everyone in the beautiful Whitsundays,” she said.

For more travel news and inspiration sign up to Escape’s newsletter.