Queensland ready to shine at Australian Tourism Exchange 2016

Tourism and Events Queensland is set to showcase the best Queensland has to offer at the 2016 Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE16) on the Gold Coast.

From today (Sunday 15th May) until Wednesday thousands of trade visitors from across Australia and the world converging will be converging on the Gold Coast for the event, which is being held at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Tourism and Events Queensland Chief Executive Leanne Coddington said Queensland had an offering like no other with an enormous opportunity to take tourism to the next level.

Coddington explained “we have a $23 billion tourism industry that employs 230,000 people, and our focus is continuing to grow this industry which benefits regions and communities right across Queensland.

“Queensland is gifted with some of the most amazing holiday experiences from our coastal and natural attractions to our Outback adventures and indigenous culture, world-class suite of events and enviable lifestyle.

“The opportunities are endless and we're working hand-in-hand with industry to inspire visitors to visit Queensland, the best address on earth.”

With visitors from China numbering Queensland’s fastest growing market, Coddington comments “China's overnight visitor expenditure in Queensland has grown phenomenally over the last year, up 51% to $957 million compared to 2014.

“In 2015 we welcomed almost 22.5 million visitors from around Australia and abroad who spent more than $19 billion, increases of nine and eight% respectively on the year prior.

“On average, visitors spend $65 million each day in Queensland.”

To attract visitors, Queensland is looking to grow its events scene, headlined by TEQ's It's Live! in Queensland events marketing platform which includes the country's best destination focused events calendar – a $460 million asset for the State.

The 2016 calendar features 116 events across Queensland that deliver two million visitor nights, and contribute significant benefits economically and socially for the State.

Coddington adds “Queensland is also home to Australia's greatest mega-sporting event this decade, the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

“We have an incredible opportunity to leave a legacy from the Games with the State-owned infrastructure in place to host many major sporting events in the future.”

Tourism Australia Chief Execboss John O'Sullivan sees ATE as a huge opportunity for the industry at large as well as local operators.

O'Sullivan states "what it provides is the opportunity for Australian product to talk directly to the people who make the purchasing decisions overseas.

"It also provides the opportunity for the Australian industry locally. There are specialist buyers out on famils before the event even starts."

About 800 key buyers from all over the world will be attend a number of social and networking events through ATE, but key is the meetings that they will hold every day with Australian tourism operators.

Also commenting on China, O'Sullivan added “tourism research has forecast they still see China growing in terms of arrivals upwards of 15% so China is a big focus.

"But what is really important, a lot of our traditional source markets are doing really well, US in the month of March grew 16% and the UK is growing at about 10%.

"Beyond that Japan is returning to growth as is South Korea."

Click here for details of the Australian Tourism Exchange 2016 in the Australasian Leisure Management industry Calendar. 

Images: ATE 2016 (top), the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre (middle) and John O'Sullivan (below).

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