Economic Development
Advance Cairns is the peak regional economic development organisation for Tropical North Queensland. We work collaboratively with industry and all levels of government to advocate for catalytic infrastructure and policy priorities, and we act as the coordinating body to deliver the long-term economic vision for the region.
Regional Profile
As Australia’s most global regional city, Cairns is a prosperous, growing, and investment-ready regional centre located in the heart of Tropical North Queensland.
Strategically located between two World Heritage listed sites – the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics Rainforest – the region is more than just a world-class tourist destination; it is fast becoming known for its tropical expertise in health, agriculture, marine science, engineering, construction, and education.
The region is well connected to the rest of Australia and, through direct airline links to eight countries, has competitive access to significant global markets.
With easy access to the Pacific via Cairns International Airport and the Cairns sea port, and with road and rail links to major Australian cities, the region has unrivalled connectivity to northern Australia.
Economic Dashboard
The Regional Economic Profile tool is vital for understanding the role that Tropical North Queensland plays within the broader Australian economy.
The information presented is derived from official sources of information (such as the Australian Bureau of Statistics) and from Australia’s leading economic modellers, NIEIR. The latest data from each series is always presented through the tool.