As the busy holiday period approaches, small and family-run tourism operators across Queensland are being encouraged to make cyber security a priority, with free industry-specific training now available.

Recent figures show that cybercrime continues to hit small businesses hard. Successful attacks now cost Queensland small businesses an average of $56,600 — a 14 per cent increase on last year. With more than 90 per cent of tourism operators fitting the definition of a small business, the risks are significant, and the financial impacts can be devastating.

Queensland also accounted for 28 per cent of all nationally reported cybercrimes in the past financial year, highlighting just how important proactive measures have become.

To help address this growing threat, the Queensland Government has partnered with the Council of Small Business Organisations of Australia (COSBOA) to lift cyber awareness and capability across the sector. As part of this partnership, a dedicated Cyber Wardens webinar for small tourism businesses will be held on Tuesday 25 November at 10.30am (Queensland time).

The session will explore real-world examples from the tourism industry, outline common red flags, and provide practical steps operators can take to reduce their risk online. Businesses unable to attend are encouraged to contact the Cyber Wardens team at partnerships@cyberwardens.com.au to discuss alternative options.

The Cyber Wardens program, funded by the Australian Government and supported by the Australian Cyber Security Centre, is designed specifically for small business environments — making it a valuable resource for tourism operators heading into their peak season.

The Capricornia Chamber of Commerce is proud to support this initiative and encourages local operators across Rockhampton, Yeppoon and the wider Capricorn region to take full advantage of this free training opportunity.

Register here: https://cyberwardens.com.au/gov/qld-gov/