The Queensland Government is delivering free, targeted cyber training to help the state’s small and family-run tourism operators shield their businesses from online threats ahead of the summer holidays.
The Government says the initiative builds on the success of the recently launched cyber security training for the construction industry, extending a commitment to safeguard small businesses across key sectors.
In Australia, 43% of cybercrimes target small businesses, with the average cost of a single cyberattack in 2024-25 being $56,600, up 14% from the previous year.
Minister for Small and Family Business, Steve Minnikin said the Government was dedicated to protecting the state’s small business tourism sector.
“By equipping small tourism businesses with the tools and knowledge to defend against online threats, we’re safeguarding not only their operations but also the jobs, communities, and visitor experiences that make Queensland a world-class destination,” Minister Minnikin said.
“The Crisafulli Government is dedicated to providing targeted support to ensure businesses are protected from the growing threat of cybercrime.”
Minister for Environment and Tourism, Andrew Powell said cyber security was essential for every tourism business.
“There are more than 65,000 tourism-related businesses across this state, each contributing more than $100 million per day to the state’s visitor economy,” Minister Powell said.
“With the right tools and support, we can reduce the impact from the threat of cybercrime for these operators.”
Council of Small Business Organisations Australia (COSBOA) Chair, Matthew Addison, highlighted the importance of protecting tourism businesses from cyber threats to ensure the sector’s resilience.
“Through this partnership with the Queensland Government, we’re bringing Cyber Wardens training to the heart of the tourism industry, helping operators protect their businesses, their customers, and their communities,” Mr Addison said.
“Just as tourism operators focus on delivering safe and memorable experiences for visitors, this training ensures their businesses are equally secure in the digital space.”
The Queensland-first training has been made possible through a partnership between the Government and Cyber Wardens, a national initiative funded by the Australian Government and delivered by COSBOA.
The free webinar will allow tourism operators and their teams to be trained to recognise and mitigate threats, reduce financial risks, and strengthen digital defences, which is crucial training as four-in-five small businesses have encountered cybercrime in the past year.
A specialised 30-minute webinar will be held on Tuesday, 25 November to help small and family businesses in the tourism sector be able to identify:
- the biggest cyber security risks targeting tourism small businesses;
- red flags and warning signs their small business is at risk;
- everyday habits to implement to become more cyber-safe.
To register for the Cyber Wardens tourism webinar, visit www.cyberwardens.com.au/qld-gov.
