Published Friday, 14 December, 2007 at 10:25 AM
Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry
The Honourable Desley Boyle
Merry Christmas Queensland! State hits record domestic tourism high
Domestic tourism to Queensland has hit a record high with visitor numbers topping 18.3 million at the year ending September 2007, the highest figure recorded since the inception of the National Visitor Survey nine years ago, Tourism Minister Desley Boyle announced today.
Ms Boyle said the growth of more than 1.5 million visitors -or 9 per cent - compared with the previous year, was matched by 79 million domestic visitor nights, a 7 per cent annual increase.
“If this wasn’t enough of a Christmas present for Queensland tourism, spending by domestic tourists is also up.
“Domestic visitors to Queensland spent more than $12.4 billion, up almost $1.4 billion or 12 per cent,” Ms Boyle said.
“Domestic tourism is a key generator of spending and employment in regional Queensland and these fantastic new results demonstrate that the Queensland Government, Tourism Queensland, regional tourism organisations and the industry are getting it right.
“Over the past year the State Government, through Tourism Queensland, has launched a range of domestic tourism initiatives including the $6.5 million ‘Where Else But Queensland’ advertising campaign.
“The award-winning television advertisement, partnered with a wide range of web and marketing campaigns, has helped increase the southern states’ awareness of Queensland and its regional tourism experiences.”
Ms Boyle said regional Queensland was one of the biggest winners from the latest domestic tourism figures, with strong growth right across the state.
“We are now one year into the Queensland Government’s 10-year, $48 million Queensland Tourism Strategy,” she said.
“This strategy is a commitment by the Queensland Government to work in partnership with industry to deliver real economic, environmental and social returns, through tourism, for all of Queensland.”
Ms Boyle also congratulated Queenslanders on making the decision to holiday locally, with the number of Queenslanders visiting Queensland destinations increasing by 14 per cent over the past year.
“Queensland offers some of Australia’s and the world’s greatest tourism experiences,” she said.
“I encourage Queenslanders over the festive holiday season to discover their own backyards.”
Queensland Domestic Tourism Snapshot (Year ending September 2007):
Total spending: $12.4 billion – up $1.37 billion or 12%
Spending per person per night: $157 – up 5%
Spending per person per trip: $676 – up 3%
Total visitors: 18.35 million – up 9%
Total visitor nights: 79 million nights – up 7%
Average length-of-stay: 4.3 nights
Business tourism visitor numbers: 3.6 million – up 13%
Business tourism visitor nights: 11.3 million
Holiday visitors: 8.1 million – up 9%
Holiday visitor nights: 40.6 million
Ends
Media contact: 3224 2007 or 3225 1005
Tourism Queensland: 3535 5010
14 December 2007
Ms Boyle said the growth of more than 1.5 million visitors -or 9 per cent - compared with the previous year, was matched by 79 million domestic visitor nights, a 7 per cent annual increase.
“If this wasn’t enough of a Christmas present for Queensland tourism, spending by domestic tourists is also up.
“Domestic visitors to Queensland spent more than $12.4 billion, up almost $1.4 billion or 12 per cent,” Ms Boyle said.
“Domestic tourism is a key generator of spending and employment in regional Queensland and these fantastic new results demonstrate that the Queensland Government, Tourism Queensland, regional tourism organisations and the industry are getting it right.
“Over the past year the State Government, through Tourism Queensland, has launched a range of domestic tourism initiatives including the $6.5 million ‘Where Else But Queensland’ advertising campaign.
“The award-winning television advertisement, partnered with a wide range of web and marketing campaigns, has helped increase the southern states’ awareness of Queensland and its regional tourism experiences.”
Ms Boyle said regional Queensland was one of the biggest winners from the latest domestic tourism figures, with strong growth right across the state.
“We are now one year into the Queensland Government’s 10-year, $48 million Queensland Tourism Strategy,” she said.
“This strategy is a commitment by the Queensland Government to work in partnership with industry to deliver real economic, environmental and social returns, through tourism, for all of Queensland.”
Ms Boyle also congratulated Queenslanders on making the decision to holiday locally, with the number of Queenslanders visiting Queensland destinations increasing by 14 per cent over the past year.
“Queensland offers some of Australia’s and the world’s greatest tourism experiences,” she said.
“I encourage Queenslanders over the festive holiday season to discover their own backyards.”
Queensland Domestic Tourism Snapshot (Year ending September 2007):
Total spending: $12.4 billion – up $1.37 billion or 12%
Spending per person per night: $157 – up 5%
Spending per person per trip: $676 – up 3%
Total visitors: 18.35 million – up 9%
Total visitor nights: 79 million nights – up 7%
Average length-of-stay: 4.3 nights
Business tourism visitor numbers: 3.6 million – up 13%
Business tourism visitor nights: 11.3 million
Holiday visitors: 8.1 million – up 9%
Holiday visitor nights: 40.6 million
Ends
Media contact: 3224 2007 or 3225 1005
Tourism Queensland: 3535 5010
14 December 2007