Brisbane's cancelled Ekka public holiday date has been moved, and the mantra flipped on it's head as the state government encourages the city to head to bush for a Spring holiday.
The new date will be Friday, October 29 and will apply to the Moreton Bay, Scenic Rim and Brisbane region.
The long holiday is expected to pump $130 million into the state's economy and tourism.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk encouraged people to book a holiday over the long weekend.
"Ekka is where the bush meets the city. This gives the city the chance to go to the bush, the beach or the rainforest," the Premier said.
"By creating a long weekend in October, we're giving thousands of Queenslanders a chance to explore their own state.
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"Our tourism industry has done it tough this year. The delta variant has had an impact on our economy and with less support from the Morrison Government, many businesses are struggling more than ever.
Last year's cancellation of the Ekka saw the Ekka public holiday moved from 12 August to 14 August, 2020.
This later date this year takes into account the ongoing restrictions across the state and recent Delta outbreaks.
Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace said last year's moved public holiday led to a 31 per cent surge in Queenslanders holidaying at home and a 62 per cent surge in the amount of money spent by Queenslanders in the Sunshine State.
"We know first-hand the benefits that carefully selected public holidays can deliver for local businesses," she said.
"Last year's Ekka public holiday had a great impact on Queensland's economy.
"We've consulted closely with tourism operators, stakeholders and businesses and picked October 29 because we believe this date will deliver local businesses the financial boost that they need."
Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe encouraged those down south to head west and north.
"It's still good weather for an Outback trek in search of dinosaurs, a sailing trip in the Whitsundays and Cairns is always the perfect place to discover to wonders of the Great Barrier Reef," Mr Hinchliffe said.
"Whether you're jumping in car or boarding a jet for the North, you owe it to yourself and Queensland tourism operators to get out of the house and have a terrific long weekend in Australia's favourite holiday destinations."
