AUS: Buying for a new boom

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When Cairns businessman Mike Burgess started in tourism in the 1960s, tourists were such a novelty in the far north that the locals would take photos as mementoes. As the head of tour boat operator — and now hotel owner — Quicksilver Cruises, Mr Burgess is facing the challenge of being able to cater for the increasingly adventurous tourist.


He won’t talk about the 1998 disappearance of US holidaymakers Eileen and Tom Lonergan while on another operator’s boat near Quicksilver’s pontoon off Port Douglas. And he doesn’t mention the presumed death of US grandmother Ursula Clutton on a day trip with the company.


Only a few months after buying tiny Green Island from Japanese company Daikyo, Mr Burgess had to deal with the drowning of an overseas daytripper on the island. Quicksilver now has an annual turnover of about $45 million, about 70 staff, and runs close to a dozen vessels. Tourism is much more sophisticated these days than 40 years ago, having to adapt to the now constant threats of terrorism and disease, and the demands of the modern tourist.


« The best way a company can protect itself is by making sure you have a diverse range of markets, » Mr Burgess said. « As far as passenger growth, a lot is going to come from the Asian markets — China, Taiwan, Korea. In recent times we’ve seen more Russians.


« And I think we will also start to see significant growth in the baby boomer market in Australia. We will see more people looking for their comforts and their safety and the younger market are seeking more adventure. » Mr Burgess thinks there is a tourism boom waiting to happen.


« There’s a lot of pent up demand from people deferring their holidays because of terrorism and because of wars and now they’re saying, ‘We can’t sit at home’. Quicksilver, owned by Hong Kong-based Japanese businessman Shin Witari but run by Mr Burgess, has been on the acquisition trail.



source: Herald Sun News – Original text can found at http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,17707619%255E664,00.html


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