- ‘Queensland is Calling’ tourism campaign is live around Australia to attract travellers to Queensland from interstate.
- As part of the campaign, Virgin Australia will launch flight deals to Queensland from $49* one way.
The Palaszczuk Government has partnered with Virgin Australia to offer 300,000 sale fares to Queensland from as low as $49* one-way, as part of the ‘Queensland is Calling’ campaign.
Designed to cement Queensland’s standing as the nation’s favourite holiday destination, the ‘Queensland is Calling’ campaign by Tourism and Events Queensland, is aimed at travellers from interstate and New Zealand who love coming back to Queensland.
The campaign aims to support Queensland’s tourism industry in exceeding the 17 million holiday visitor nights and $5.7 billion of holiday overnight visitor expenditure achieved in the September to December period last year.
As part of Queensland’s Year of Accessible Tourism, $1 million is also being invested to increase awareness of the state’s accessible tourism experiences.
The Virgin sale fares will see visitors being able to enjoy the best of Queensland’s holiday destinations right across the state. More than 30 routes will be on sale and 300,000 fares up for grabs. Flights will be on sale from Monday 4 September to Sunday 10 September.
Quotes attributable to Acting Premier, Steven Miles:
“Queensland is calling Aussies and Kiwis to come and enjoy our state’s great lifestyle and our world-class visitor experiences.
“Whether it’s snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef, walking through a world heritage rainforest, experiencing the outback or enjoying a meal or drink at one of Queensland’s best venues, its easy to see why Queensland is Australia’s favourite destination.
“We’re partnering with Virgin Australia to offer incredible deals designed to encourage travellers to answer Queensland’s call.
“This campaign highlight’s all of Queensland’s amazing holiday experiences and more – all aimed at supporting our visitor economy, which contributed more than $32 billion to the state’s economy in the year ended March 2023.
“In the lead up to 2032, we want Australia and the globe to see Queensland as a world’s-best holiday destination.”
Quotes attributable to Treasurer and Acting Tourism Minister, Cameron Dick:
“The Palaszczuk Government is determined to maintain and strengthen Queensland’s dominant share of Australia’s domestic holiday market.
“The Queensland is Calling’ campaign will welcome back visitors and show them new unique experiences.
“2023 is also the Year of Accessible Tourism.
“We want people to know Queensland is for everyone.
“For example, travellers using wheelchairs can get up close with humpback whales and hear the whales sing through a hydrophone.
“We also have learn to surf lessons for all abilities.”
“It’s a huge opportunity for our industry, particularly in the lead up to Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”
Quotes attributable to Tourism and Events Queensland CEO Patricia O’Callaghan:
“You simply cannot scroll past these deals and with 300,000 sale fares we know this will make a big impact.
“Competition around the country and the globe is heating up but we know there’s people who love coming back to Queensland, so we’re giving them a great excuse to turn that dream into a booking. We’re also targeting those who think they’ve done it all in Queensland and showing them there’s so much more to discover.
“We are also incredibly proud to be launching the ‘Accessed That’ podcast and owning the conversation around accessible travel and embracing the accessible travel community.”
Quotes attributable to Virgin Australia Group Chief Transformation Officer, Alistair Hartley:
“As a Queensland-based organisation, we are really excited to partner with TEQ to drive visitation to this wonderful state.
“We know many Australians are feeling the pinch from the rising cost of living and while Virgin Australia is always about amazing value and choice, our special Queensland fares from as low as $49 are not only a welcomed deal, but a deal too good to pass up.
“We certainly don’t expect the airfares will last long and encourage all Australians to visit our website from midnight tonight to book their next Queensland holiday.”
Additional Information
Queensland is Calling campaign:
The Queensland is Calling campaign has been live in Australia since 28 August and will extend into New Zealand from 11 September.
In addition to Virgin, TEQ has also partnered with Luxury Escapes, Accor, MyQueensland, Helloworld and House of Travel to drive bookings to Queensland.
As part of Queensland’s Year of Accessible Tourism, $1 million is also being invested to increase awareness of the state’s accessible tourism experiences, with TEQ partnering with Expedia and Travello to drive bookings around the state.
For the first time as part of a campaign, TEQ launched a podcast this week called ‘Accessed That’, to show Queensland as an accessible and inclusive destination by elevating the voices of travel lovers, bloggers, and influencers with a disability.
The podcast, hosted by comedian Oliver Hunter and Australian Paralympic swimmer Karni Liddell, can be streamed and downloaded via Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts, with new episodes released each Monday.
Flight deals to Queensland from $49*:
The sale fares will see visitors being able to enjoy the best of Queensland’s holiday destinations right across the state, including:
- Sydney to Gold Coast from $49 one-way economy lite*
- Melbourne to the Sunshine Coast one-way economy lite from $75*
- Brisbane to Cairns one-way economy lite from $69*
- Brisbane to Prosperine (Whitsunday Coast) one way economy lite from $59*
- Perth to Brisbane one-way economy lite from $155*
Flights will be on sale from Monday 4 September to Sunday 10 September, unless sold out prior, for various travel periods from October 2023 – June 2024 and are available each way (ie. Brisbane to Cairns and Cairns to Brisbane). Visit from 12:01am, Monday 4 September to book these and more sale fares.
*Fares are on sale from 11:59pm AEST 10 September 2023, unless sold out prior. For travel on selected dates between 11 October 2023 and 20 June 2024. Travel periods and conditions apply. Subject to availability. Payment surcharge may apply. Seat selection and checked baggage not included in Economy Lite fares. $49 price point based on a one-way Economy Lite fare from Sydney to Gold Coast, booked at virginaustralia.com.
Example list of sale fares
Route | Lite Fare (one way) |
Melbourne > Gold Coast | $69 |
Sydney > Gold Coast | $49 |
Adelaide > Gold Coast | $79 |
Canberra > Gold Coast | $65 |
Brisbane > Proserpine (Whitsundays) | $59 |
Brisbane > Cairns | $69 |
Sydney > Cairns | $85 |
Melbourne > Hamilton Island | $99 |
Sydney > Hamilton Island | $95 |
Brisbane > Hamilton Island | $79 |
Melbourne > Sunshine Coast | $75 |
Sydney > Sunshine Coast | $55 |
Adelaide > Brisbane | $109 |
Canberra > Brisbane | $95 |
Darwin > Brisbane | $129 |
Newcastle > Brisbane | $65 |
Perth > Brisbane | $155 |
Brisbane > Townsville | $105 |
Melbourne > Cairns | $109 |
Perth > Cairns | $119 |
Subject to availability. Payment surcharge may apply. Seat selection and checked baggage not included in Economy Lite fares. Full T&Cs at
