The term "catastrophic", has been used a lot lately in reference to the floods in the south of the State. Now it's being used to describe the impact price discounting may have on the tourism industry.

Tourism Queensland has urged tourism operators not react to the crisis by slashing prices, especially at a time when interest in the State is at its highest thanks to the publicity surrounding the airing of the Oprah Show specials.

TQ's executive director of marketing, Steve McRoberts, said the shows have already had an impact with increased enquiries and visits to TQ's US website up 250% on this time last year.

“We have operators that need to get back on their feet and by going down that path (discounting), it will be catastrophic,” McRoberts told Travel Today.

Mr Roberts conveyed the message that while airlines are heavily reducing their fares to create demand, tourism operators and wholesalers should work together and consider packaging products.
 
“If they are bundling and clustering you are going to see tremendous value,” McRoberts said. “We are not looking for operators to slash and burn their business.”