International holidaymakers up 24% in South East Queensland Country

The number of international holidaymakers in South East Queensland Country rose by 24 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 a total of 133,100 international visitors came to the South East Country region in the year to September 2007 – which represented a 10 per cent increase.

“Of these visitors, 55 per cent were on holiday and 38 per cent were visiting friends and relatives,” Ms Boyle said.

“Compared with the previous year, there was a 17 per cent rise in international leisure visitors, which was the primary driver for the total increase in international visitors to the South East Queensland Country region.

“At the same time, international visitor nights in the region rose by 3 per cent to 1,621,800 with average length of stay of 12.2 nights per visitor, per trip.”

Ms Boyle said New Zealand was the largest source market for the region (an estimated 35,400 visitors) recording a 13 per cent increase on the previous year.

The United Kingdom was the region’s second largest source market, accounting for an estimated 27,700 visitors.

South East Queensland Country International Visitor Snapshot (Year ending September 2007):

• Total international visitors: 133,100, up 10%
• Total visitor nights: 1,621,800 nights
• Average length-of-stay: 12.2 nights
• International leisure visitors: 120,600, up 17%, accounting for 55% of all international visitors
• International “Visiting Friends and Relatives” sector accounts for 38% of visitors
• Largest source market: New Zealand, 35,400
• Second largest source market: United Kingdom, 27,700
• International leisure visitors spent 9.8 nights within the region per person

Ends

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

7 December 2007