The number of Aussies holidaying on the Sunshine Coast increased 18 per cent to 1.8 million in the year to September 2012 according to new figures released today.
Member for Maroochydore Fiona Simpson said the latest National Visitor Survey from Tourism Research Australia revealed a continuing surge in the number of Queenslanders and Australians choosing to holiday on the Sunshine Coast.
“Australians spent $1.8 billion on visits to the Sunshine Coast in the year to September 2012, which is $165 million more than the year before,” Ms Simpson said.
“This equates to more than 2.8 million Australian visitors in the year to September 2012, which is 6 per cent more than the previous year.
“Queenslanders choosing a Sunshine Coast holiday were the main driver of the impressive results, increasing 20 per cent to 1.3 million.
“Day-trip visitors also increased strongly over the year to September 2012 with the number of trips up 24 per cent to 5.8 million.
“The Newman Government is getting tourism back on track. We have listened to the industry and the people on the ground right across the Sunshine Coast.”
The research also showed an increase in the number of visitors from Victoria and New South Wales.
Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and the Commonwealth Games Minister Jann Stuckey said the Newman Government is working hard to reinstate Queensland as the country’s number one tourist destination.
“Queensland is a great State with great opportunity. Unlike Labor who neglected tourism, we have adopted a whole-of-Government approach to put tourism front-of-mind,” she said.
Overall, 18 million Australians visited Queensland in the year to September 2012 (up five per cent) and spent $13.5 billion (up 12 per cent).
Member for Maroochydore Fiona Simpson said tourism was one of the four pillars of the Queensland economy and the Government was committed to doubling annual overnight visitor expenditure to $30 billion by 2020.
National Visitor Survey information for Queensland regions can be found at www.tq.com.au/research.
