After a six-month slump, Sunshine Coast hinterland accommodation providers and businesses say the extended Easter break has heralded a crucial comeback. Many of the visitors looking to rejuvenate in the picturesque range towns of Maleny and Montville include flood-affected Brisbane people able to escape for a long weekend. Tourism operators are also celebrating on the Gold Coast, with many hotels booked out and the industry predicting the best Easter in three years. Bookings are also up in the Cairns region, as holiday makers make the most of cheap flights and the school holidays. Occupancy, which had sunk as low as 10 to 15 per cent after the summer disasters, had reached above 80 per cent for the Easter weekend. The Sunshine Coast hinterland’s “cuddle market", which usually fires up in the winter months, also is showing signs of a resurgence with a number of wedding, honeymoon and anniversary stays booked.
