More than $58 million has been injected into the local economy over the past two years through a Cairns Regional Council program aimed at attracting major events.

The council has also endorsed a new Major Events Sponsorship Policy which it said will streamline the sponsorship process for all current and future events as recommended by BASCO Consulting.

BASCO’s “The Major and Economic Events Outcomes Report” tabled by council estimates the total economic impact of events was $58.4 million with more than 52,000 visitors to the region.

Cairns Mayor, Terry James, said the outcomes achieved through the sponsorship program surpassed expectations.

“These programs have been instrumental in attracting and supporting events that have not only bolstered the local economy but also heightened the profile of Cairns as a premier event destination,” he said.

“Notably, the economic impact nearly doubled from 2021/22 to 2022/23, reflecting the effectiveness of the Council’s support for events and the resilience of the Cairns region during the COVID recovery period.

“The funding aligns with the Cairns and Great Barrier Reef Event Strategy 2025, a collaborative initiative with Tourism Tropical North Queensland, which has a primary focus of attracting events that provide a significant economic benefit and bolster our status as a premier destination.”

Tourism Tropical North Queensland CEO, Mark Olsen, said events played a key role in boosting the visitor economy during the shoulder seasons.

“The tourism dollar continued to benefit the community year-round,” he said..

“TTNQ works closely with Cairns Regional Council to promote tourism experiences to visitors attending events to extend their length of stay in the region.”