Ekka public holiday changes proposed by leading Queensland tourism bodies

With this year's Ekka cancelled due to COVID-19, tourism operators are calling for the Brisbane city holiday to be moved from the usual Wednesday to a Monday or Friday.

The Queensland Tourism Industry council's Daniel Gschwind says a long weekend would encourage people to invest in the struggling industry.

Resort operators and the QTIC are calling for the holiday to fall on a long weekend, incentivising people to take trips interstate and away from home.

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"We've already lost the Ekka so … we might as well make a long weekend of it and I think it's an idea worth considering," Mr Gschwind.

"We also have five million Australians who would holiday overseas during the year.

"If we could encourage some of that money to be spent in Queensland that would make a huge difference."

Yesterday Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk pledged an extra $50 million for the tourism industry as operators nationwide fear the domestic tourism industry could collapse.

They are calling for the borders to be reopened before September.

"Domestic tourism is very important for Queensland," Mr Gschwind said.

It is just the third time in its 143-year history that the Ekka has been cancelled. The decision was made in early April following the Federal Government's advice on large gatherings and social distancing restrictions.

There are no signs of the Ekka public holiday being cancelled altogether.

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