MORE INTERSTATE TOURISTS WAKE UP TO BRISBANE

Shivering southerners have been escaping to sunny Brisbane in record numbers according to new figures announced today by Tourism Minister Margaret Keech.

The latest national Visitor Survey results show Sydney and Melbourne residents leading the charge north, with visitor numbers up by more than 12 per cent for each city.

Mrs Keech said the number of Sydneysiders travelling to Brisbane increased by 12.9 per cent, while those visiting from Melbourne increased by 12.1 per cent.

“More than 2.2 million interstate overnight visitors spent in excess of 15.2 million visitor nights in the state’s capital,” Mrs Keech said.

“Brisbane ranked fourth in the top 20 regions for domestic overnight visitor expenditure in Australia.

“Domestic overnight visitors increased spending by more than $241 million in the year ending March 2007, a 10.8 per cent increase.

“It is great to see more than 1.4 million overnight visitors coming to Brisbane specifically for a holiday, up 7 per cent on last year.

“Business tourists also continue to do their deals in Brisbane, increasing in overnight visitor numbers by 15.8 per cent and increasing in nights by 26.9 per cent.”

Mrs Keech said the strong partnerships between the Beattie Government, Brisbane Marketing and tourism operators were helping build a better local tourism industry.

“Tourism in Brisbane continues to go from strength-to-strength, led by the highly successful ‘Sleepy Little Town’ interstate marketing campaign,” Mrs Keech said.

“Ongoing investment in new premium accommodation and tourism facilities will only increase local opportunities to generate more money and jobs from tourism.

“The Beattie Government is dedicated to working with Brisbane Marketing and industry in developing local tourism products and marketing initiatives under the Queensland Tourism Strategy (QTS), to secure the economic, environmental and social sustainability of the State’s tourism industry.”

Brisbane Marketing CEO, David Regan, said Brisbane is proof that hard work and strong industry partnerships can deliver for local tourism.

“We have been working closely with Tourism Queensland and industry to promote and educate domestic holiday makers that Brisbane is not the ‘Sleepy Little Town’ it used to be,” Mr Regan said.

“It is now a leisure, business and cultural hub for both domestic and international visitors.

“We look forward to ongoing strong increases in expenditure and visitation from southern holiday makers.”

Media Contact: Jo Gibbons 3225 1005 / 0439 761 416