MORE INTERNATIONAL BACKPACKERS HEADING FOR FRASER COAST AND SOUTH BURNETT

The backpacker market is boosting tourism in the Fraser Coast/South Burnett region, according to the latest International Visitor Survey (IVS).

Tourism Minister Margaret Keech said more backpackers were flocking to the region than ever before.

Mrs Keech said more than two thirds of visitors to the region were backpackers in the year ending December 2006.

“This is an excellent result for Fraser Coast/South Burnett, with 67 per cent of all international visitors to the region classing themselves backpackers,” Mrs Keech said.

“This is an increase of six per cent on the number of international backpackers from the previous year.

“Not only is this a tremendous figure for tourism in the region, but it puts Fraser Coast/South Burnett on par with the Whitsundays as Queensland’s top backpacker destination.

“The region also witnessed a small but positive overall result on the number of international visitors and visitor nights, rising by one and two per cent respectively.”

There were 196,461 international visitors to the region, up from 194,451 the previous year.

Mrs Keech said the figures also showed strong growth from Germany and Scandinavia.

“The number of German visitors to Fraser Coast/South Burnett grew by 12 per cent, while there was a tremendous rise of 29 per cent in Scandinavian visitors.

“This comes on top of the region’s popularity with visitors from the United Kingdom, who accounted for almost one third of the international market.”

Mrs Keech said the great results were a testament to the hard work being done by Tourism Queensland, the Fraser Coast South Burnett Regional Tourism Board and the industry.

“Tourism injected $75 million into the Fraser Coast South Burnett economy in the last calendar year, and it is an excellent result to see such strong figures continuing to bolster Fraser Coast South Burnett tourism.

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

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