The value of holiday cancellations in the Cairns region has climbed to $125 million across December and January in the wake of major flooding.
"That's about the equivalent of 300,000 less visitors to our part of the world," Tourism Tropical North Queensland chief executive Mark Olsen said.
Far north Queensland is grappling with the impacts of ex-tropical cyclone Jasper, which crossed the coast mid-last week.
The Cairns airport was inundated while people were forced to flee their homes and seek refuge on rooftops.
The tourism industry said they had provided more than 185 families impacted by flooding with emergency accommodation.
New Tourism Minister Michael Healy said he was confident Cairns had capacity for tourists and locals who needed accommodation.
"We have world-class hotels and we have a lot of hotel rooms should that need arise," he said after being sworn in on Thursday morning.
Mr Healy encouraged tourists to still holiday in Cairns over summer.
"The best way we can get people to help as a result of this cyclone and major flooding event is to come up and holiday," he said.
"We're hoping in the next week or two we'll be able to accommodate people."
With floodwaters receding, Mr Olsen said most tourism operators had reopened in the region with a ferry operating between Cairns and Port Douglas until it is accessible by road.
He encouraged anyone who had a booking to get in contact with tour providers and avoid cancelling.
"The accommodation is open, the restaurants and cafes are open, the experiences are available," Mr Olsen said.
"We need you now more than ever."
But in the Daintree, 100km north of Cairns, there's much more work to do before tourists can return.
Mr Olsen said three significant landslides had to be cleared before roads to the area reopened.
"This is not a time for tourism in the Daintree, and certainly not a time to go stickybeaking in communities that have been impacted by flooding," he said.
Australian Associated Press
