Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles has declared "the end is in sight" of the coronavirus pandemic but warned tourism operators face a long path to recovery.
Mr Miles told Today the state was eager for more New South Wales visitors after the border closure for Sydneysiders was scrapped this morning.
"We have done so incredibly well, and the end is in sight, you know. The vaccine is only weeks away. We don't have to put up with this much longer," he said.
READ MORE: Queensland reopens border to Greater Sydney
Mr Miles laughed off a remark by NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet, who took a swipe at Queensland saying, "Money doesn't grow on banana trees and that's what Queenslanders need to understand."
"Well, first of all, up here in Queensland, money does grow on banana trees," Mr Miles said.
"The industry is worth hundreds of millions of dollars to Queensland."
Mr Miles said he sympathised with travellers from large parts of Western Australia who must now undergo 14 days' mandatory quarantine on arriving in Queensland.
Yesterday Queensland officials made the decision after a Perth hotel worker tested positive for COVID-19.
But Mr Miles cautioned it would take months for the national vaccine rollout to be completed, and the Queensland tourism industry faced bleak months ahead.
READ MORE: Treasurer rejects JobKeeper extension for struggling tourism sector
"The largest impact on the far north has been the stopping of international travel, in Cairns and the surrounding areas," he said.
"The tourist market there is very reliant on international tourism and unfortunately that won't change even though our domestic borders are now open."
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