Published Friday, 14 December, 2007 at 11:46 AM
Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry
The Honourable Desley Boyle
Cairns and Tropical North welcome $232 million increase in domestic tourism spending
Australians continue to flock to Cairns and the Tropical North despite attractive airfares on offer for overseas destinations.
Tourism Minister and Member for Cairns Desley Boyle said the National Visitor Survey results released today showed a 1 per cent increase in domestic holiday visitors to the region – which was a solid increase off an already large base to 820,000 holiday visitors.
“That is really good news when we consider the general trend of people heading overseas on holiday and the increasing competition from our neighbours in Asia and the South Pacific,” Ms Boyle said.
“More Australians are choosing to holiday in Cairns and the Tropical North,” she said.
Ms Boyle said the huge range of high-quality tourism experiences and accommodation in the region had enticed visitors to stay 3 per cent longer and spend 17 per cent more.
“Domestic tourists spent more than $1.58 billion in Cairns and the Tropical North in the year ended September 2007 - a $232 million or 17 per cent increase,” Ms Boyle said.
“The total average spend per person per trip increased by 22 per cent to $1091.
“This fantastic growth is reinforced by an 8 per cent increase in total visitor nights to 8.7 million nights.”
Ms Boyle said tourism growth out of New South Wales contributed to the strong spending and increase in visitor nights.
While the total number of holidaymakers visiting Cairns and the Tropical North increased, there was a 5 per cent decline in total visitor numbers, compared with the same period last year.
Ms Boyle said this was largely the result of a decline in business visitors following a spike in business visitors the year before with an influx of people visiting the region for the Cyclone Larry clean-up.
She said the Queensland Government, Tourism Queensland and Tourism Tropical North Queensland had been working in partnership with industry to re-brand the region over the past year.
“The ‘Change Your Latitude’ brand has been a wonderful success for the Tropical North tourism industry and has been embraced by industry and operators,” she said.
“The region has also been promoted domestically through an exciting new online and television marketing campaign.
“This, partnered with an increase in domestic flights from the southern states, has meant that the Tropical North’s tourism industry continues to grow and develop as one of Australia’s - and the world’s - leading tropical holiday destinations.”
Tropical North Queensland Domestic Tourism Snapshot:
(Year ending September 2007)
Total visitors spending: $1.58 billion - up $232 million or 17%
Total overnight visitors: 1.4 million - down 5%
Total holiday visitors: 820,200 – up 1%, accounting for 57% of total visitors
Total visitor nights: 8.7 million nights - up 8%
Total holiday visitor nights: 5.2 million – up 11%
Average length-of-stay: 5.6 nights – up from 5 nights
Average spend per person per night: $196 – up 8%
Total spend per person per trip: $1091– up 22%
Ends
Media contact:
Minister Boyle: 3224 2007
Tourism Queensland: 3535 5010
14 December 2007
Tourism Minister and Member for Cairns Desley Boyle said the National Visitor Survey results released today showed a 1 per cent increase in domestic holiday visitors to the region – which was a solid increase off an already large base to 820,000 holiday visitors.
“That is really good news when we consider the general trend of people heading overseas on holiday and the increasing competition from our neighbours in Asia and the South Pacific,” Ms Boyle said.
“More Australians are choosing to holiday in Cairns and the Tropical North,” she said.
Ms Boyle said the huge range of high-quality tourism experiences and accommodation in the region had enticed visitors to stay 3 per cent longer and spend 17 per cent more.
“Domestic tourists spent more than $1.58 billion in Cairns and the Tropical North in the year ended September 2007 - a $232 million or 17 per cent increase,” Ms Boyle said.
“The total average spend per person per trip increased by 22 per cent to $1091.
“This fantastic growth is reinforced by an 8 per cent increase in total visitor nights to 8.7 million nights.”
Ms Boyle said tourism growth out of New South Wales contributed to the strong spending and increase in visitor nights.
While the total number of holidaymakers visiting Cairns and the Tropical North increased, there was a 5 per cent decline in total visitor numbers, compared with the same period last year.
Ms Boyle said this was largely the result of a decline in business visitors following a spike in business visitors the year before with an influx of people visiting the region for the Cyclone Larry clean-up.
She said the Queensland Government, Tourism Queensland and Tourism Tropical North Queensland had been working in partnership with industry to re-brand the region over the past year.
“The ‘Change Your Latitude’ brand has been a wonderful success for the Tropical North tourism industry and has been embraced by industry and operators,” she said.
“The region has also been promoted domestically through an exciting new online and television marketing campaign.
“This, partnered with an increase in domestic flights from the southern states, has meant that the Tropical North’s tourism industry continues to grow and develop as one of Australia’s - and the world’s - leading tropical holiday destinations.”
Tropical North Queensland Domestic Tourism Snapshot:
(Year ending September 2007)
Total visitors spending: $1.58 billion - up $232 million or 17%
Total overnight visitors: 1.4 million - down 5%
Total holiday visitors: 820,200 – up 1%, accounting for 57% of total visitors
Total visitor nights: 8.7 million nights - up 8%
Total holiday visitor nights: 5.2 million – up 11%
Average length-of-stay: 5.6 nights – up from 5 nights
Average spend per person per night: $196 – up 8%
Total spend per person per trip: $1091– up 22%
Ends
Media contact:
Minister Boyle: 3224 2007
Tourism Queensland: 3535 5010
14 December 2007