Published Friday, 14 March, 2008 at 04:29 PM
Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry
The Honourable Desley Boyle
More holidaymakers choose Bundaberg
More Australians are choosing Bundaberg as a holiday destination, new figures released today have revealed.
Tourism Minister Desley Boyle said the National Visitor Survey for the year ended December 2007 revealed that 512,000 domestic visitors spent more than 1.6 million nights in the Bundaberg region last year – 16 percent more visitors than in 2006.
Most visitors were either on a holiday (201,000 visitors) or were visiting friends and relatives (186,000 visitors).
“Overall, the number of visitors choosing the Bundaberg region for their holiday increased 14.9 percent last year, with the region also recording a steady 13.4 percent climb in holidaymakers over the past three years,” Ms Boyle said.
“This is good news for the local tourism industry and a testament to the initiatives and hard work by Tourism Queensland and Bundaberg Region Tourism in promoting Bundaberg as a holiday destination.”
Ms Boyle said the number of Australians travelling to the region to visit friends and relatives had however declined slightly by 1.6 percent.
She said overall nights had also decreased by 5.5 percent while the average length of stay in the region was 3.2 nights, down 0.8 nights. This could in part be attributed to the increasing trend for people to take shorter breaks.
“The positive news is that the number of visitors coming to the region purely for holiday purposes is increasing,” she said.
Ms Boyle said while Bundaberg’s tourism industry was in a healthy state, the latest figures needed to be approached with a degree of circumspection.
“There is no hiding from the fact that Australia’s whole domestic tourism industry is facing challenging times, growing a negligible 0.3% nationally last year,” she said.
“A combination of rising interest rates and spending on consumer items is keeping many families at home while a strong Australian dollar and cheap overseas package holidays have many other Australians packing their bags and grabbing their passports in record numbers.”
Ms Boyle said Tourism Queensland was working closely with Bundaberg Region Tourism to promote the region and she would soon announce some exciting new campaign initiatives, due to roll out nationally in the coming weeks.
National Visitor Survey Bundaberg snapshot year ended December 2007
Visitors – 512,000 – up 16.1 percent year on year including:
Holiday – 201,000 – up 14.9%
Visiting friends and relatives 186,000 – down 1.6%
Visitor Nights – 1,662,000 – down 5.5%
Average length of stay – 3.2 nights – down 0.8 nights
Ends
Media contact: 3224 2007 or 3225 1005
Tourism Queensland: 3535 5010
14 March 2008
Tourism Minister Desley Boyle said the National Visitor Survey for the year ended December 2007 revealed that 512,000 domestic visitors spent more than 1.6 million nights in the Bundaberg region last year – 16 percent more visitors than in 2006.
Most visitors were either on a holiday (201,000 visitors) or were visiting friends and relatives (186,000 visitors).
“Overall, the number of visitors choosing the Bundaberg region for their holiday increased 14.9 percent last year, with the region also recording a steady 13.4 percent climb in holidaymakers over the past three years,” Ms Boyle said.
“This is good news for the local tourism industry and a testament to the initiatives and hard work by Tourism Queensland and Bundaberg Region Tourism in promoting Bundaberg as a holiday destination.”
Ms Boyle said the number of Australians travelling to the region to visit friends and relatives had however declined slightly by 1.6 percent.
She said overall nights had also decreased by 5.5 percent while the average length of stay in the region was 3.2 nights, down 0.8 nights. This could in part be attributed to the increasing trend for people to take shorter breaks.
“The positive news is that the number of visitors coming to the region purely for holiday purposes is increasing,” she said.
Ms Boyle said while Bundaberg’s tourism industry was in a healthy state, the latest figures needed to be approached with a degree of circumspection.
“There is no hiding from the fact that Australia’s whole domestic tourism industry is facing challenging times, growing a negligible 0.3% nationally last year,” she said.
“A combination of rising interest rates and spending on consumer items is keeping many families at home while a strong Australian dollar and cheap overseas package holidays have many other Australians packing their bags and grabbing their passports in record numbers.”
Ms Boyle said Tourism Queensland was working closely with Bundaberg Region Tourism to promote the region and she would soon announce some exciting new campaign initiatives, due to roll out nationally in the coming weeks.
National Visitor Survey Bundaberg snapshot year ended December 2007
Visitors – 512,000 – up 16.1 percent year on year including:
Holiday – 201,000 – up 14.9%
Visiting friends and relatives 186,000 – down 1.6%
Visitor Nights – 1,662,000 – down 5.5%
Average length of stay – 3.2 nights – down 0.8 nights
Ends
Media contact: 3224 2007 or 3225 1005
Tourism Queensland: 3535 5010
14 March 2008