According to Australian media, Queensland is looking at luring Guam-based military personnel and their families to visit the tourism hub of Cairns for “cosmetic tourism.”
A Radio Australia report describes military personnel living on Guam as “cashed-up soldiers” who can help prop us Cairns’ tourism-dependent economy during this current downturn.
According to The Australian newspaper, officials are promoting cosmetic surgery and fertility clinic services in Cairns because they are cheaper compared with the U.S.
Stephen Ollie, chairman of Tourism Tropical North Queensland, said military personnel based on Guam and their families can combine their needed medical procedures with a vacation since Australia offers a wide choice of activities, accommodations and fine-dining restaurants.
The Guam buildup, which will require billions of dollars worth of infrastructure work, has particularly caught the attention of Australian contractors.
But after the trade mission to Guam, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation quoted a contractor as saying that prospects for participating in the lucrative infrastructure projects would be difficult at best because American companies are already “well-positioned” for the Guam buildup.
