by Mat Churchill

The road closures for this Sunday's Cairns Airport Challenge Cairns is causing confusion for Macrossan Street business owners who are struggling with the decision as to whether to open their shops.

The closure of the Captain Cook Highway this Sunday has urked some residents, one Oak Beach local saying he is effectively under "house arrest" for 12 hours, but the impact from the event on businesses in town is widely unknown.

Port Douglas Chamber of Commerce committee member Doug Calvert, himself an owner of four Macrossan Street retail outlets, said it is difficult to tell how businesses will fare.

"The jury is out. I'll make a decision on whether I continue opening shops next year. I'll probably do it this year as an experiment. What they're asking for is the place not be a ghost town when they're up here."

Mr Calvert said business owners, many of whom are already under financial pressure, may not be able to afford the costs involved in opening on Sunday.

"It's a struggle on Sunday's because of penalty rates. I know there are quite a few (stall holders) in the markets who are saying it's not worth their while doing it.

Mr Calvert said that last Sunday's Coral Coast Triathlon impacted negatively on businesses.

"Everyone has got really concerned about what happened last Sunday. It would've been better off if it hadn't happened last Sunday. We know that even without closing the highway it was a nightmare.

"But on the other side is there won't be that traffic coming in from the highway so maybe there'll be easier access on coming into town. Time will tell on this one.

He added that it was important for the area to present well to the outside world.

"I've received feedback from businesses, there's concern about it, but the big picture is there's 350 million viewers in 40 countries.

"My thoughts are we probably don't want to have the place a ghost town, we need to give this the best shot for the long term."

Tourism Port Douglas and Daintree executive officer, Doug Ryan, is expecting a number of competitors in the Cairns Airport Challenge Cairns Event

"I think it's an opportunity for people to show support for an international event. Whether they show that support by opening their business or getting out the front of their businesses and cheering the athletes on, it's really important that the image we give the world of Port Douglas is one of a happy and vibrant place."

USM Events CEO, Geoff Meyer, said as the event establishes itself over the coming years there will be a growing economic boost for businesses in the region.

"That's why we've been employed by the Government, to really give it (the region) a good economic boost like we do with similar events like the Noosa Multi-Sport Festival...

"I'm very much encouraging them (Port Douglas businesses) to support the event and create their own party festival up there supporting the athletes.

"We've got the Quicksilver boat which is a 350 seat capacity boat doing relays from Cairns to Port Douglas, back to Cairns, back up to Port Douglas all day long trying to get more people up there.

"We think that most of the locals will want to come out and see what this circus is all about. I think it'll be a great atmosphere up there."

Mr Meyer said there will be a live viewing area with large screens at the end of Macrossan Street so people can watch all the action. The screens will let spectators know who each of the riders are as they pass through town, not once, but twice.