North West Queensland’s Gulf Savannah region offers unique and diverse visitor experiences, showcasing diverse landscapes of immense natural beauty and an abundance of wildlife, world class Indigenous and cultural experiences, rich heritage and history, amazing fishing and camping, and endless adventure.
The visitor economy is a key driver of economic growth in the Gulf Savannah region with our wonders and beauty attracting 98,000 visitors to the Gulf (at June 2023) staying 625,265 nights and spending over $73 million per year.
Developing a Gulf tourism collective
A key priority for Gulf Savannah Development is to work across our region and with key tourism partners to grow the visitor economy – which represents 7.5% of the regional economy – and support local industry to explore opportunities and develop new products and experiences.
To foster collaboration and bring more visitors to the region, GSD is delivering several key initiatives:
- Develop a Gulf tourism collective to foster collaboration and growth of the Gulf visitor economy by:
- Facilitating regular, ongoing collaboration and information sharing between GSD member Councils and Visitor Information Centres
- Fostering partnerships with Tourism Tropical North Queensland, Outback Queensland and Savannah Way Limited
- Engaging with local tourism businesses
- in 2024-25 and 2025-26, we delivered a Tourism Recovery and Resilience Program including: employed a Tourism Recovery Officer; delivered locally led initiatives; documented stories of resilience across the Gulf; improved digital capability and trade readiness across Burke, Carpentaria, Doomadgee and Mornington LGAs
- Updated the Cattle Station Stay Manual and rolled out a mentoring program to develop agritourism
- Supporting development of more tourism experiences and products, especially First Nations experiences
- Improving Gulf tourism digital capacity and capability, including more local businesses registered on the Australian Tourism Data Warehouse and Best of Queensland Experiences
- Exploring cruise opportunities in the Gulf of Carpentaria, with a focus on Port of Karumba, Mornington Island, Sweers Island and opportunities to partner with Weipa
- Develop a Gulf tourism action plan to progress priorities identified in the TNQ Destination Management Plan
- Develop a Gulf tourism collective to foster collaboration and growth of the Gulf visitor economy by:
Tourism Recovery and Resilience Program
2024-2026
The Gulf’s unique natural environment means the region experiences regular natural disasters and severe weather events – the region regularly faces flood, severe storms and tropical cyclones, periods of drought and bushfires. These events are happening more regularly and have a major impact on tourism in the region.
Following severe weather events in the Gulf in November 2022 to April 2023, the Australian and Queensland Governments approved joint Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) to support the Gulf’s tourism recovery and resilience. GSD delivered a Tourism Recovery and Resilience Program in 2024-25 and 2025-26, including employing Stephanie Toy as GSD’s Tourism Recovery Officer, engaging local tourism operators, industry and community to identify and deliver locally led initiatives to improve tourism recovery and resilience across Burke, Carpentaria, Doomadgee and Mornington Local Government Areas. GSD also worked with Mount Isa City Council, which delivered a similar DRFA funded initiatives in Mount Isa and Cloncurry. GSD is continuing to develop practical tools and resources to support our Gulf Savannah tourism businesses to better prepare for and recover faster from disaster events.
This initiative has delivered significant and lasting outcomes, including:
Gulf Savannah Stories Project – Unveiling the Heart of Resilience
An inspiring and thought-provoking collection of stories from 14 operators, exploring themes of connection to place as a source of resilience.
The stories reveal eight interconnected themes of resilience, including a strong connection to place, adaptability, self-reliance, and the importance of community and collaboration. Experience, mindset, and a focus on quality over quantity further underpin the region’s resilient tourism operators.
The project has produced a compelling regional narrative, along with generating valuable insights to inform policy and decision making.
We extend our sincere thanks to our project partner, The Tourism Colab. The digital flipbook is available to read below.
Business Resilience Planning
Tailored Business Resilience Plans were developed to reflect the unique characteristics of each location and operation. This was supported by one-on-one mentoring sessions, enabling participants to work through their plans in detail, build capability, and apply practical strategies to strengthen long-term resilience.
Digital Capacity Building Program
Driven substantial regional exposure, achieving a 200% increase in memberships across GSD Tourism and Tourism Tropical North Queensland.
A regional digital audit revealed that Gulf Savannah businesses had a comparatively lower digital presence than their urban counterparts, with limited visibility and participation within the broader tourism network. To address this, the initiative deliberately shifted away from conventional group workshops, prioritising a highly customised, one-on-one delivery model.
In partnership with The Digital Marketing Hub, 27 businesses received comprehensive support to enhance their digital capability and online presence. This encompassed the creation of new websites, upgrades to existing platforms, optimisation or set up of ATDW and Google Business listings, and the development of tailored digital strategies. Businesses also benefited from targeted social media coaching and account setup, Best of Queensland training and support alongside bespoke community workshops designed to reinforce learning and build collective capability across the region.
In collaboration with our project partner, The Digital Marketing Hub, 27 businesses were supported to improve their digital capability through new websites & upgrades, ATDW listings, google business listings, digital strategies, social media coaching sessions, social media set up and bespoke Community workshops.
This initiative has driven substantial regional exposure, achieving a 200% increase in memberships across GSD Tourism and Tourism Tropical North Queensland, as well as gaining 12,000 new social media followers. Together, these results create a strong and enduring legacy for the region.
We extend our sincere thanks to The Digital Marketing Hub Australia for their valued expertise and collaboration in delivering this initiative.
Gulf Cruise Industry Development
In November 2025, GSD hosted an inaugural Cruise Forum in Karumba and brought together 25 participants including; Local and State Government, regional leaders, Traditional Owners, local tourism operators, government agencies, and industry partners to explore the opportunities and challenges of developing a sustainable expedition and superyacht cruise industry across the Gulf region.
Participants expressed strong interest in unlocking economic, cultural, and community benefits while ensuring tourism is community-led, environmentally responsible, and respectful of cultural protocols. Next steps include an engagement strategy and famils with key stakeholders.
Stories of the Gulf Savannah
“Unveiling the Heart of Resilience”
This collection brings together 14 operator stories from across the Burke, Carpentaria, Doomadgee and Mornington Island LGAs, alongside a regional narrative and key insights for policymakers.
We hope you enjoy reading the flipbook and exploring these powerful stories from across the Gulf Savannah.
Regions Represented
We strive to represent all people, businesses, corporations in the Gulf Region, lobbying for greater funding and support from higher government institutions.
GSD also works closely with other LGAs surrounding the Gulf Savannah region to leverage opportunities, strengthen our regional economic development approaches, and develop joint initiatives.
Regions Represented
we strive to represent all people, businesses, corporations in the Gulf Region, lobbying for greater funding and support from higher government institutions.
GSD also works closely with other LGAs surrounding the Gulf Savannah region to leverage opportunities, strengthen our regional economic development approaches, and develop joint initiatives.
Savannah Toolkit
(more resources to be developed)
Tourism Operators Resilience Toolkit
The following tourism resources have been developed from funding under the joint Australian and Queensland government’s Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) to support Tourism Recovery and Resilience.
The Savannah Gulf region is unique, and we face different challenges to other Queensland regions. These resources have been developed in consultation with industry to ensure your specific needs are met.
Here you will find information and tools to support your business to prevent, prepare, respond and recover from disasters and severe weather events in our region. The tools are easy to use and can help you in a few simple steps.
Visitors to our region can be impacted by natural disasters and severe weather events, including road closures, emergency evacuations and booking cancellations.
If you are impacted by a disaster, you should visit relevant Council Disaster Hubs which provide the latest and most up to date information. Links to disaster hub sites are below. If you are in the region, you can also tune into the local ABC radio for updates.
For questions about bookings and cancellations, contact your accommodation, experience or transport provider directly.
Call 000 in an emergency.
