‘It’s eerie’: tropical north Queensland tourism goes into coronavirus hibernation

As Port Douglas, Cairns and Airlie Beach turn into ghost towns, businesses are wondering how to survive the dual spectres of a pandemic and global heating

About this time of year, the weather in tropical north Queensland takes a turn towards glorious. Last Saturday in Cairns would have made a postcard, had any tourists been in town to experience the onset of the dry season.

Hotel occupancy rates in Cairns have fallen to single digits and most tourism businesses have closed their doors - some forever - as the region's lifeblood industry is brought to a standstill by coronavirus travel bans and other restrictions. The local tourism lobby estimates losses of about $2.5bn and 11,000 jobs this year.