INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS FLOCK TO BUNDABERG

More international tourists are visiting Bundaberg and staying longer, the latest International Visitor Survey (IVS) shows.

Tourism Minister Margaret Keech said international visitation to the region had increased by a staggering 17 per cent in the past year, with the number of visitor nights also showing strong growth.

She said there were 60,296 international visitors to the region in the year ending December 2006, well up on the previous year’s figure of 51,342.

“The research showed the increase was influenced by New Zealand travellers,” Mrs Keech said.

“Bundaberg is popular with New Zealand visitors, which is Queensland’s largest source market.

“Visitor nights for New Zealand tourists were up by a staggering 17 per cent.”

Mrs Keech said visitors and visitor nights from Germany, the region's second largest source market, also increased.

“Bundaberg is really cementing its reputation worldwide as a premier holiday destination,” Mrs Keech said.

“Bundaberg is also increasingly being known as a backpacker haven.

“These new figures show that 57 per cent of visitors to the region classed themselves as backpackers, up an incredible 38 per cent from last year.

“That ranks the region fourth in the state with the backpacker market.”

Mrs Keech said the great results were a testament to the hard work being done by Tourism Queensland, Bundaberg Region Tourism and industry in these markets.

“It is great to see the effort paying off in the Bundaberg region,” Mrs Keech said.

“More importantly, the result equals real economic returns and more job opportunities for Queensland communities.”

Media Contacts: Jo Gibbons 3224 2007 or David Smith 3225 1005