Paradise lost: Tropical Cyclone Debbie wreaks havoc on idyllic Hamilton Island
Tropical Cyclone Debbie has devastated Hamilton Island, transforming the once idyllic holiday destination from a tropical playground to a wasteland.
The popular holiday destination nestled in the Whitsunday Islands that has played host to the likes of Oprah Winfrey has been left on its knees following 263km/h winds.
The island bore the initial Debbie's initial brunt and sustained substantial structural damage as a result.
Queensland's tourism chief fears images of Cyclone Debbie's destruction will lead to a significant drop-off in tourists visiting the entire state.
Daniel Gschwind has warned there's a strong chance travellers will cancel their bookings, not only to the cyclone-ravaged north, but across the state.
"When the images of disasters, strong winds, uprooted trees go around the world and around Australia, some people incorrectly assume that all of Queensland is shut," the Queensland Tourism Industry Council chief executive told AAP.
"We don't want a second wave of damage of people unnecessarily cancelling their holidays."
Mr Gschwind said the Whitsunday region, which includes Hayman and Hamilton islands, generates about $2 million a day in tourism and about $700 million a year, and a disaster of this magnitude would have a significant impact.
He said it was important to get the message out that most parts of Queensland were open for business.
Cyclone Debbie is the most severe storm to hit Queensland since Cyclone Yasi in 2011, which was estimated to have cost the state $400 million in tourism dollars.
Residents on Hamilton Island were lashed by the eyewall - the most destructive part of the cyclone which comes before the calm eye - which resulted in damaged buildings and brought torrential rain.
Mr Gshwind said hotels, holiday parks and other tourism operators in north Queensland were among the best at handling disasters.
Meanwhile around 200 holiday-makers and 100 staff on Daydream Island, which also suffered structural damage, are running low on water.
Contact is yet to be made with Hayman Island.
Currently 63,000 customers without power supply across north Queensland.
Newsbreak – March 29
