Paranormal Investigators Townsville has fortnightly tours of the West End Cemetery, which member Karina Looby said was to “let people know of the history that lies there”.

“Politicians, MPs, mayors and many notable Townsville persons are interred at the cemetery,” she said.

The search for ghosts is also taking them further afar and the members are planning to bring a bus-load of people to stay overnight and investigate the Royal Private Hotel in Charters Towers on Saturday March 10.

Owner Julie Grant said it was great for the local economy to have Townsville residents visit on ghost tours.

“Is it great for my business if they find a ghost? Maybe not because there are some that don’t mind and others that very much do mind,” she said.

Although sceptical about the existence of the supernatural, Ms Grant is sure about one thing – the impact for Charters Towers.

“It’s great that the hotel will be full again and that they’re injecting cash into the local community,” she said.

“Architecturally we have a massive amount of old buildings and that they dedicate a whole tour to Charters Towers is a great thing.”

The hotel itself has a grisly history, including murders and suicides.

Paranormal Investigators Townsville isn’t the only group with its sights set on Charter Towers. Raven Tours is also regularly conducting tours in the nearby township of Ravenswood and is looking to include Charters Towers in the itinerary.

Those trips will also include a ghost tour in Charters Towers.

Ms Grant said there were rumours Ravenswood was also haunted.

“Ravenswood is said to be full of ghosts and lots of people go out there looking for them,” she said.

Paranormal Investigators Townsville is also planning a tour to Ravenswood in July.

Originally published as Ghost tourism takes off in Townsville