Published Friday, 14 December, 2007 at 10:13 AM
Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry
The Honourable Desley Boyle
Southern cousins give the Gold Coast three billion reasons to smile
Victorians and New South Welshmen flooding into the Gold Coast contributed to a $275 million increase in domestic overnight visitor expenditure in the region, Tourism Minister Desley Boyle announced today.
Ms Boyle said the National Visitor Survey results for the year to September 2007, showed domestic visitors to the Gold Coast spent more than $3 billion.
“The Gold Coast, with its fabulous beaches and sensational sunshine, proved to be an irresistible drawcard for visitors, particularly those on holiday from Victoria – that market increased by 26 per cent to 391,000 visitors,” she said.
“New South Welshmen also continued to cross the border to our beaches with 624,000 holiday visitors making the journey – an increase of 6 per cent.
“While the beaches and great weather are an obvious selling point for southerners, the Gold Coast has evolved into a world-class destination of fine wining, dining and holiday experiences.
“Add to that the plethora of theme parks and attractions and an amazing hinterland – the green behind the gold - and it’s not difficult to imagine why someone would leave a cold winter in the south for a Gold Coast holiday.
”I commend the hard work of the people at Gold Coast Tourism and Tourism Queensland who work tirelessly to attract visitors to the region.”
In addition, the interstate holiday sector increased to just over 1.2 million people – a rise of 11 per cent.
In total, the Gold Coast welcomed 3.8 million domestic overnight visitors in the year to September 2007 - an 8 per cent increase. Of these, 2.2 million were holidaymakers.
Domestic visitors to the Gold Coast spent 16.7 million visitor nights – up 12 per cent.
Ms Boyle said more than a million people visited friends and relatives, a dramatic 33 per cent increase on the previous year; and the number of nights they spent on the Gold Coast increased by 40 per cent to 4.2 million.
“Queensland visiting friends and relatives led the charge, increasing by a whopping 34 per cent,” she said. “Most of these were south-east Queenslanders.”
Business visitors to the Gold Coast remained stable, with the region receiving 402,000 in the year to September 2007.
Gold Coast Tourism Snapshot (Year ending September 2007):
Total visitor spending: $3 billion – up $275 million or 10%
Total visitors: 3.8 million – up 8%
Total visitor nights: 16.7 million – up 12%
Total spend per visitor per night: $183 – down 2%
Total spend per visitor, per trip: $804 – up 2%
Average length-of-stay – 4.3 nights
Business visitors: 402,000 – stable
Business nights: 1.1 million – down 1%
Holiday visitors: 2.2 million – up 1%
Holiday visitor nights: 10.7 million – up 8%
Interstate holiday visitors: 1.2 million – up 11%
Ends
Media contact:
Minister Boyle: 3224 2007
Tourism Queensland: 3535 5010
14 December 2007
Ms Boyle said the National Visitor Survey results for the year to September 2007, showed domestic visitors to the Gold Coast spent more than $3 billion.
“The Gold Coast, with its fabulous beaches and sensational sunshine, proved to be an irresistible drawcard for visitors, particularly those on holiday from Victoria – that market increased by 26 per cent to 391,000 visitors,” she said.
“New South Welshmen also continued to cross the border to our beaches with 624,000 holiday visitors making the journey – an increase of 6 per cent.
“While the beaches and great weather are an obvious selling point for southerners, the Gold Coast has evolved into a world-class destination of fine wining, dining and holiday experiences.
“Add to that the plethora of theme parks and attractions and an amazing hinterland – the green behind the gold - and it’s not difficult to imagine why someone would leave a cold winter in the south for a Gold Coast holiday.
”I commend the hard work of the people at Gold Coast Tourism and Tourism Queensland who work tirelessly to attract visitors to the region.”
In addition, the interstate holiday sector increased to just over 1.2 million people – a rise of 11 per cent.
In total, the Gold Coast welcomed 3.8 million domestic overnight visitors in the year to September 2007 - an 8 per cent increase. Of these, 2.2 million were holidaymakers.
Domestic visitors to the Gold Coast spent 16.7 million visitor nights – up 12 per cent.
Ms Boyle said more than a million people visited friends and relatives, a dramatic 33 per cent increase on the previous year; and the number of nights they spent on the Gold Coast increased by 40 per cent to 4.2 million.
“Queensland visiting friends and relatives led the charge, increasing by a whopping 34 per cent,” she said. “Most of these were south-east Queenslanders.”
Business visitors to the Gold Coast remained stable, with the region receiving 402,000 in the year to September 2007.
Gold Coast Tourism Snapshot (Year ending September 2007):
Total visitor spending: $3 billion – up $275 million or 10%
Total visitors: 3.8 million – up 8%
Total visitor nights: 16.7 million – up 12%
Total spend per visitor per night: $183 – down 2%
Total spend per visitor, per trip: $804 – up 2%
Average length-of-stay – 4.3 nights
Business visitors: 402,000 – stable
Business nights: 1.1 million – down 1%
Holiday visitors: 2.2 million – up 1%
Holiday visitor nights: 10.7 million – up 8%
Interstate holiday visitors: 1.2 million – up 11%
Ends
Media contact:
Minister Boyle: 3224 2007
Tourism Queensland: 3535 5010
14 December 2007