Business and leisure drives Gold Coast’s $2.6 billion domestic tourism industry
Published Friday, 14 September, 2007 at 10:25 AM
Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry
The Honourable Desley Boyle
Domestic overnight visitors spent more than $2.6 billion on the Gold Coast for the year ending June 2007, according to the latest National Visitor Survey.
Desley Boyle, who was sworn in as Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry yesterday, released the figures today.
“I am excited because I already have a track record for lobbying for opportunities in the regions of Queensland. The regions are where there are big growth and opportunities for the future.”
Ms Boyle said the region saw 3.7 million domestic overnight visitors over the past year, a six per cent annual increase.
“More people are coming to the Gold Coast demonstrated by a six per cent increase in domestic visitor nights (15.8 million),” Mrs Boyle said.
“Holidaymakers led the tourism charge to the Gold Coast with 2.2 million tourists visiting for holidays, a 2.4 per cent increase.
“The number of holidaymakers from Melbourne being lured to the Gold Coast grew 11 per cent to 268,000, while visitors from regional New South Wales increased by 8 per cent to 290,400.”
Mrs Boyle said she was also encouraged by the large number of intrastate visitors supporting the Gold Coast tourism industry.
“Living in Queensland we are blessed to have at our doorstep some of the world’s most important and breathtaking tourism experiences,” she said.
“The Gold Coast has long been a local holiday favourite with 48 per cent of domestic visitors coming from intrastate.
“Over the past year visitors from regional Queensland increased by 11 per cent while visitors from Brisbane equated to 33 per cent of all domestic holiday visitors to the Gold Coast.”
Ms Boyle said the Queensland Government’s investment in business tourism infrastructure, including the $40 million expansion of the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, was assisting in driving the business tourism market.
“More than 442,100 domestic business visitors came to the Gold Coast over the past year, an 11 per cent annual increase,” she said.
“The increase in business travellers was led by a 27 per cent increase from New South Wales (150,000 visitors).”
Ends
Media contact: Mark Symons 3225 1005 or Marcus Taylor (Tourism Queensland) 3535 5010/0419 646 121
14 September 2007
Desley Boyle, who was sworn in as Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry yesterday, released the figures today.
“I am excited because I already have a track record for lobbying for opportunities in the regions of Queensland. The regions are where there are big growth and opportunities for the future.”
Ms Boyle said the region saw 3.7 million domestic overnight visitors over the past year, a six per cent annual increase.
“More people are coming to the Gold Coast demonstrated by a six per cent increase in domestic visitor nights (15.8 million),” Mrs Boyle said.
“Holidaymakers led the tourism charge to the Gold Coast with 2.2 million tourists visiting for holidays, a 2.4 per cent increase.
“The number of holidaymakers from Melbourne being lured to the Gold Coast grew 11 per cent to 268,000, while visitors from regional New South Wales increased by 8 per cent to 290,400.”
Mrs Boyle said she was also encouraged by the large number of intrastate visitors supporting the Gold Coast tourism industry.
“Living in Queensland we are blessed to have at our doorstep some of the world’s most important and breathtaking tourism experiences,” she said.
“The Gold Coast has long been a local holiday favourite with 48 per cent of domestic visitors coming from intrastate.
“Over the past year visitors from regional Queensland increased by 11 per cent while visitors from Brisbane equated to 33 per cent of all domestic holiday visitors to the Gold Coast.”
Ms Boyle said the Queensland Government’s investment in business tourism infrastructure, including the $40 million expansion of the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, was assisting in driving the business tourism market.
“More than 442,100 domestic business visitors came to the Gold Coast over the past year, an 11 per cent annual increase,” she said.
“The increase in business travellers was led by a 27 per cent increase from New South Wales (150,000 visitors).”
Ends
Media contact: Mark Symons 3225 1005 or Marcus Taylor (Tourism Queensland) 3535 5010/0419 646 121
14 September 2007