The new vessel, Reef Magic IV, has received $4 million in funding from the Queensland Government as part of the $80 million Tourism Icons Investment Fund. Experience Co and its subsidiary Reef Unlimited will fund the remainder of the $10 million cost of the vessel, which will be built in Queensland.
The new catamaran will facilitate trips onto the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef, including to the 1,000m2 Reef Magic pontoon, on Moore Reef, the newest pontoon off Cairns, which offers capacity for 250 people to spend a day on the reef, including event groups.
“We know these experiences are already icons of the Reef, but this investment will help operators right here in Cairns and across the Far North take things up a notch and keep visitors in our region longer,” said Bree James, the member for Barron River.
Experience Co CEO – and former Tourism Australia managing director – John O’Sullivan said Reef Magic IV would allow the company to take more visitors out onto the Great Barrier Reef.
“The vessel is designed for the overall comfort of our guests as well as delivering increased fuel efficiency and reduced environmental impact, which supports sustainable tourism growth,” said O’Sullivan.
“This funding will help us enhance our offerings and attract more visitors to the Great Barrier Reef, benefiting both the environment and the local economy.”
The first round of grants via the Tourism Icons Investment Fund has seen more than $25 million handed out to support nine projects, including the development of a new surf park and Australia’s largest zipline – two separate projects, both on the Gold Coast – and a “rejuvenation” of the Big Pineapple on the Sunshine Coast.
