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21 June, 2025
Tourism legend farewelled
TOURISM legend Robbie Bastion has been remembered as a trailblazing promoter of the Far North, Port Douglas and the Daintree.
The 69-year-old died two weeks ago after spending decades selling the region across the world.
Tourism Tropical North Queensland chief executive officer Mark Olsen said despite starting his career south of the border in 1979, Mr Bastion always had Queensland tourism in his blood and a great love of the tropical north.
“Starting in the NSW travel centres, he made the leap to the Queensland Tourist and Travel Corporation in the 1980s in their Sydney travel centre and then took the Canberra office to number one in the QTTC network.
“One of the original road warriors, Robbie always had the knack for selling the state and became famous (or infamous) in travel when he joined Quicksilver as general director of sales and hit the road.
“Anyone who knew Robbie knew his love of this region and of the travel industry and he never quit until he got the deal done.
“Robbie thought deeply about the industry and how to make this region thrive, winning countless awards for his outstanding contributions including the TTNQ Hall of Fame with Parker Travel Collection and an outstanding contribution of an individual in 2010. He has written the book on how to sell the tourism experiences of the tropical north and while quick with a joke, he was always quick with some sage advice.
“Passionate, determined, pig-headed and virtually unstoppable, Robbie inspired an industry and lifted a region. Never have so many benefitted so much from one man’s mission.”
Mr Bastion is survived by two children and five grandchildren. He was farewelled at his wake at the Trinity Beach Tavern last week.
Read More: Far North
