Published Wednesday, 10 September, 2008 at 11:47 AM
Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry
The Honourable Desley Boyle
Minister Boyle releases latest international visitor figures
The latest international visitor figures have revealed a 2.8 percent decline in Queensland’s visitor numbers.
There is good news for the future however with strong growth from the emerging markets of China, India and Malaysia, Tourism Minister Desley Boyle said today.
“There’s no doubt that Queensland’s tourism industry is in the middle of a very difficult period with a slowing global economy, a strong AUD, record fuel prices and competition from other destinations all affecting international travel to our state,” she said.
“While overall visitor numbers are down, including our leading Japanese and UK markets, which declined 16 and 11 percent respectively to 312,000 and 256,000 visitors, these results are not unexpected.
“Queensland’s fourth largest market, the United States, has declined six percent to 167,000 visitors – attributable in part to a loss of consumer confidence following the US credit crunch.“
Member for Albert Margaret Keech said the latest figures revealed 116,000 Chinese visited the Gold Coast last financial year, up 41 percent on the year before, making China the destination’s third largest market behind New Zealand (222,000) and Japan (123,000).
Overall, 849,000 international visitors spent eight million nights on the Gold Coast, up two percent and eight percent respectively.
“International visitors also spent $940 million on the Gold Coast, $20 million more than in the year before,” Ms Keech said.
“This will be welcome news to the region’s tourism industry, which is facing one of its most challenging times ever thanks to a slowing global economy, a strong AUD, record fuel prices and competition from other destinations all affecting international travel.”
Ms Keech said New Zealand continued to be the Gold Coast’s largest international market with 222,000 Kiwis visiting last financial year, while visitors from Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong and Singapore had grown strongly.
This could in part be attributed to the establishment of international flights into the Gold Coast by low-cost airlines such as Jetstar and AirAsia X.
India also performed strongly, with visitor numbers increasing 31 percent to 17,000
“Although Indians are still a relatively small market for the Gold Coast, they are high spenders so this is a market we are keen to develop further,” Ms Keech said.
“These are tough times for all in the tourism industry with international visitor numbers to Australia remaining flat and most states recording decreases in many of their core markets.”
IVS Year Ended June 2008 – Gold Coast Snapshot:
Total international visitors: 849,000, up 2%
Total international visitor nights: 8 million, up 8%
Average length of stay: 9.5 nights, up 0.5 nights
International holiday visitors: 674,000, up 3%
International visiting friends or relatives: 120,000, up 1%
International Business visitors: 43,000, up 2%
Total international expenditure: $940 million, up 2%
Spend per visitor: $1107, stable
Spend per night: $116, down 6%
Ends
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Minister’s office: Kirstie Maier 3225 1005 or 0448 13 195
Tourism Queensland: Danielle Koopman 3535 5588 or 0424 151 684.
10 September 2008
There is good news for the future however with strong growth from the emerging markets of China, India and Malaysia, Tourism Minister Desley Boyle said today.
“There’s no doubt that Queensland’s tourism industry is in the middle of a very difficult period with a slowing global economy, a strong AUD, record fuel prices and competition from other destinations all affecting international travel to our state,” she said.
“While overall visitor numbers are down, including our leading Japanese and UK markets, which declined 16 and 11 percent respectively to 312,000 and 256,000 visitors, these results are not unexpected.
“Queensland’s fourth largest market, the United States, has declined six percent to 167,000 visitors – attributable in part to a loss of consumer confidence following the US credit crunch.“
Member for Albert Margaret Keech said the latest figures revealed 116,000 Chinese visited the Gold Coast last financial year, up 41 percent on the year before, making China the destination’s third largest market behind New Zealand (222,000) and Japan (123,000).
Overall, 849,000 international visitors spent eight million nights on the Gold Coast, up two percent and eight percent respectively.
“International visitors also spent $940 million on the Gold Coast, $20 million more than in the year before,” Ms Keech said.
“This will be welcome news to the region’s tourism industry, which is facing one of its most challenging times ever thanks to a slowing global economy, a strong AUD, record fuel prices and competition from other destinations all affecting international travel.”
Ms Keech said New Zealand continued to be the Gold Coast’s largest international market with 222,000 Kiwis visiting last financial year, while visitors from Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong and Singapore had grown strongly.
This could in part be attributed to the establishment of international flights into the Gold Coast by low-cost airlines such as Jetstar and AirAsia X.
India also performed strongly, with visitor numbers increasing 31 percent to 17,000
“Although Indians are still a relatively small market for the Gold Coast, they are high spenders so this is a market we are keen to develop further,” Ms Keech said.
“These are tough times for all in the tourism industry with international visitor numbers to Australia remaining flat and most states recording decreases in many of their core markets.”
IVS Year Ended June 2008 – Gold Coast Snapshot:
Total international visitors: 849,000, up 2%
Total international visitor nights: 8 million, up 8%
Average length of stay: 9.5 nights, up 0.5 nights
International holiday visitors: 674,000, up 3%
International visiting friends or relatives: 120,000, up 1%
International Business visitors: 43,000, up 2%
Total international expenditure: $940 million, up 2%
Spend per visitor: $1107, stable
Spend per night: $116, down 6%
Ends
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Minister’s office: Kirstie Maier 3225 1005 or 0448 13 195
Tourism Queensland: Danielle Koopman 3535 5588 or 0424 151 684.
10 September 2008