Published Friday, 07 December, 2007 at 12:15 PM
Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry
The Honourable Desley Boyle
International tourists spend up big in Townsville
Overseas visitors injected an extra $27 million into Townsville’s economy in the year to September 2007, the latest International Visitor Survey results show.
Tourism Minister Desley Boyle said the figures released today showed international travellers to Townsville spent a total of $91 million, with the average spend per person per trip increasing by 37 per cent to $646.
“The increase in expenditure has been driven by more visitors staying slightly longer and spending more per night,” she said.
Ms Boyle said the number of international visitor nights increased by 23 per cent to 1,555,900 in the year to September 2007.
“In terms of visitor nights, there were strong increases by both holidaymakers and people visiting friends and relatives,” she said.
“The employment and education sectors also registered large increases in international visitor nights throughout the year to September 2007.
“Despite accounting for only 2 per cent of international visitors, education nights account for 24 per cent of all international nights spent within the Townsville region and this is a primary reason for the relatively long international average length-of-stay (10.5 nights) within the region.”
Ms Boyle said international holiday visitors accounted for 84 per cent of all international visitors to the Townsville region and totalled 124,300 - a 2 per cent increase - while international holiday nights soared by 39 per cent to 699,300 nights.
“The United Kingdom remains Townsville’s largest source market, followed by visitors from Germany,” she said.
Townsville International Visitor Snapshot (Year Ending September 2007):
• Total international visitors: 147,900, up 3%
• Total international visitor nights: 1,555,900, up 23%
• The average length of stay increased by 1.7 nights to 10.5 nights
• Total international overnight visitor expenditure: $91 million, up $27 million or 42%
• The average spend per person (per trip) increased by 37% to $646
• Largest source market: The United Kingdom followed by Germany
• International holiday visitors account for 84% of all international visitors
• Townsville region received 124,300 international holiday visitors
• The average length of stay for holiday visitors was 5.6 nights
Ends
Media contacts:
Minister Boyle: 3224 2004
Tourism Queensland: 3535 5010
7 December 2007
Tourism Minister Desley Boyle said the figures released today showed international travellers to Townsville spent a total of $91 million, with the average spend per person per trip increasing by 37 per cent to $646.
“The increase in expenditure has been driven by more visitors staying slightly longer and spending more per night,” she said.
Ms Boyle said the number of international visitor nights increased by 23 per cent to 1,555,900 in the year to September 2007.
“In terms of visitor nights, there were strong increases by both holidaymakers and people visiting friends and relatives,” she said.
“The employment and education sectors also registered large increases in international visitor nights throughout the year to September 2007.
“Despite accounting for only 2 per cent of international visitors, education nights account for 24 per cent of all international nights spent within the Townsville region and this is a primary reason for the relatively long international average length-of-stay (10.5 nights) within the region.”
Ms Boyle said international holiday visitors accounted for 84 per cent of all international visitors to the Townsville region and totalled 124,300 - a 2 per cent increase - while international holiday nights soared by 39 per cent to 699,300 nights.
“The United Kingdom remains Townsville’s largest source market, followed by visitors from Germany,” she said.
Townsville International Visitor Snapshot (Year Ending September 2007):
• Total international visitors: 147,900, up 3%
• Total international visitor nights: 1,555,900, up 23%
• The average length of stay increased by 1.7 nights to 10.5 nights
• Total international overnight visitor expenditure: $91 million, up $27 million or 42%
• The average spend per person (per trip) increased by 37% to $646
• Largest source market: The United Kingdom followed by Germany
• International holiday visitors account for 84% of all international visitors
• Townsville region received 124,300 international holiday visitors
• The average length of stay for holiday visitors was 5.6 nights
Ends
Media contacts:
Minister Boyle: 3224 2004
Tourism Queensland: 3535 5010
7 December 2007