Overseas visitors to Fraser Coast and South Burnett up 10 per cent

International visitors to the Fraser Coast and South Burnett increased by 10 per cent in the year to September 2007, the latest International Visitor Survey results show.

Tourism Minister Desley Boyle said the figures released today showed 197,700 overseas visitors arrived in the Fraser Coast/South Burnett region in the year to September 2007, staying an average 4.5 nights in the region.

Total international visitor nights were up 13 per cent to 896,200.

“Ninety-five per cent of all overseas visitors to the region were holidaymakers with 195,700 in the region purely for pleasure,” she said.

“Boasting the world’s largest sand island, Fraser Island, plus a host of other attractions, it is easy to see why the region is so popular.”

“The number of international tourists visiting friends and relatives also increased strongly.

“The United Kingdom was the region’s largest source market with 56,700 visitors in the year to September 2007.

Germans were also attracted to the region’s natural beauty. An estimated 26,300 German tourists in the year to September 2007 represented an increase of 19 per cent.

Fraser Coast International Visitor Snapshot (Year ended September 2007):
• 197,700 international visitors – up 10%
• 195,700 were leisure visitors – up 10%
• 896,200 international visitor nights – up 13%
• 95 percent of all international visitors where visiting for holidays
• International visitors spent an average of 4.5 nights on the Fraser Coast
• 56,700 visitors United Kingdom visitors - stable
• 26,300 German visitors – up 19%

Ends

Media contacts:
Minister Boyle: 3224 2004
Tourism Queensland: 3535 5010

7 December 2007