MORE THAN 7,500 visitors were welcomed to Bowen by the staff and volunteers of Bowen Tourism and Business, in the month of July.
That’s more than 240 people per day – an increase of more than 20 per cent on June last year.
Bowen Tourism and Business operates the Visitor Information Centre next to the Big Mango and the information booth at Bowen’s Front Beach.
We thought the number of visitors may slow down when the school holidays finished but we have been surprised by the number of people who are discovering our piece of paradise.
There are certainly a lot of families on the road, with caravans and a lot of people travelling north to the tip of Cape York.
We have also had a lot of the US Army Officers from the joint military exercise Talisman Sabre call in to the Bowen Visitor Information Centre, buying souvenirs to take home and getting their photo taken with the iconic Big Mango.
Most caravan parks have been full in recent weeks with the occasional unpowered site still available.
The forward bookings for accommodation in Bowen are strong and it is now only a month until the Don River Dash – a fantastic, off-road event attracting competitors and spectators from all over Australia.
The event is now in its fifth year and will be held from September 8 to 10.
It is an endurance event for bikes and buggies, with competitors completing a 50km loop in the dry Don River – navigating through a mixture of sand, rocks and jumps.
More information about this event can be found at www.donriverdash.com.au.
By Leanne Abernethy, Bowen Tourism and Business
