INTERNATIONAL TOURISM BOOMING IN QUEENSLAND
Published Friday, 07 September, 2007 at 11:17 AM
Minister for Tourism, Fair Trading, Wine Industry Development and Women
The Honourable Margaret Keech
International visitors are spending more and staying longer in Queensland according to the latest International Visitor Survey results released today, Tourism Minister, Margaret Keech, said.
“In the year ending June 2007, international visitor spending in Queensland increased by more than $336 million or 11 per cent to $3.3 billion (excluding package expenditure),” she said.
“Almost 2.2 million international visitors came to Queensland, spending more than 35.7 million visitor nights, a 12 per cent annual increase.
“The Beattie Government is dedicated to increasing international tourism to Queensland.
“Over the past year we have opened two new international offices, launched a range of new international online and marketing initiatives, and contributed more than $2 million to hosting one of the world’s largest tourism trade shows, the Australian Tourism Exchange.
“These excellent results demonstrate that the work being undertaken internationally on a tourism and trade level by the Government is delivering real economic and employment opportunities for Queenslanders.”
Mrs Keech said the State had seen strong increases across a variety of existing and emerging international tourism markets.
“Over the past year, visitation from China increased by 15 per cent to more than 143,800 visitors, who spent more than $104 million,” she said.
“China has been identified under our 10-year, $48 million Queensland Tourism Strategy as a key emerging market vital to the tourism industry’s future, so this great result is very encouraging.
“New Zealand continued to be the state’s largest international market with more than 421,800 visitors spending more than $524 million, a seven per cent annual increase.
“More than 289,400 visitors from the UK and 177,500 visitors from the US spent $475 million and $275 million respectively.”
Mrs Keech said Queensland continued to see a softening of the Japanese tourism market in line with other states and the nation.
“The appreciation of the Australian dollar to the Yen and increased visitation by the Japanese to new short haul competitor destinations had a significant effect on Japanese visitors to Australia over the past year,” she said.
“However, the Queensland Government recognises the importance of Japan to Queensland.
“Tourism Queensland opened a new office in Japan, and is launching new cooperative marketing initiatives with major airlines to help improve visitation.
“The Beattie Government is dedicated to the state’s tourism industry and we will continue to invest and diversify international market opportunities to ensure the tourism industry is prosperous and safeguarded.”
Media Contact: Peter McCarthy 3225 1005
“In the year ending June 2007, international visitor spending in Queensland increased by more than $336 million or 11 per cent to $3.3 billion (excluding package expenditure),” she said.
“Almost 2.2 million international visitors came to Queensland, spending more than 35.7 million visitor nights, a 12 per cent annual increase.
“The Beattie Government is dedicated to increasing international tourism to Queensland.
“Over the past year we have opened two new international offices, launched a range of new international online and marketing initiatives, and contributed more than $2 million to hosting one of the world’s largest tourism trade shows, the Australian Tourism Exchange.
“These excellent results demonstrate that the work being undertaken internationally on a tourism and trade level by the Government is delivering real economic and employment opportunities for Queenslanders.”
Mrs Keech said the State had seen strong increases across a variety of existing and emerging international tourism markets.
“Over the past year, visitation from China increased by 15 per cent to more than 143,800 visitors, who spent more than $104 million,” she said.
“China has been identified under our 10-year, $48 million Queensland Tourism Strategy as a key emerging market vital to the tourism industry’s future, so this great result is very encouraging.
“New Zealand continued to be the state’s largest international market with more than 421,800 visitors spending more than $524 million, a seven per cent annual increase.
“More than 289,400 visitors from the UK and 177,500 visitors from the US spent $475 million and $275 million respectively.”
Mrs Keech said Queensland continued to see a softening of the Japanese tourism market in line with other states and the nation.
“The appreciation of the Australian dollar to the Yen and increased visitation by the Japanese to new short haul competitor destinations had a significant effect on Japanese visitors to Australia over the past year,” she said.
“However, the Queensland Government recognises the importance of Japan to Queensland.
“Tourism Queensland opened a new office in Japan, and is launching new cooperative marketing initiatives with major airlines to help improve visitation.
“The Beattie Government is dedicated to the state’s tourism industry and we will continue to invest and diversify international market opportunities to ensure the tourism industry is prosperous and safeguarded.”
Media Contact: Peter McCarthy 3225 1005