Queensland tourism and event operators have potential to generate $2 billion in April

Three long weekends this month for Queensland sees tourism and event operators with potential to generate up to $2 billion.  

Queensland Tourism Industry Council Chief Executive, Daniel Gschwind said Easter had been a game changer for tourism and event operators noting “the Easter weekend certainly delivered the turnaround and the mood for tourism operators that we had hoped for.

“The ANZAC weekend and the long weekend ahead of us are giving the industry the boost we need after the struggle we have had over the past two years.”

Queensland Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe advised “this Friday afternoon marks the last of Queensland’s hat-trick of April long weekends, starting with record travel for Easter.

“Queensland’s Labour Day long weekend comes primed with a solid calendar of events from the Gold Coast to Cairns and west to Longreach.

“We’re encouraging Queenslanders to explore their own back yard this Labour Day long weekend.

“Events bring visitors who support local jobs and tourism economies across regional Queensland.” 

Long weekend events featured on the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar include:

• North Queensland Games (Townsville)

• Road to Rodeo (Longreach)

• AFL Premiership game St. Kilda v Port Adelaide (Cairns)

• Gold Coast Film Festival (Gold Coast)

• Boyne Tannum Hookup (Gladstone)

• Australian Volleyball Beach Masters (Capricorn)

• Yungaburra Triathlon (Atherton Tablelands, Cairns and Great Barrier Reef region)

• Gold Coast Open (surfing) (Burleigh, Gold Coast)

Accommodation occupancy is at around 70% in many destinations including the Gold Coast Sunshine Coast and the Tropical North. The Whitsundays is set to be a star performer this weekend with good forward bookings nudging 74% while Ultiqa hotels and resorts have 15% off two-night stays in Brisbane - always a great base for exploring shopping, dining, Moreton Bay Island tours, the South Bank Cultural precinct, Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary and with easy access to theme parks. 

Easter saw Brisbane, Cairns and Gold Coast airports all recording their busiest days for air travel since the start of the Covid pandemic.

“Early indications suggest domestic tourism spending in Queensland during the hat-trick of long weekends in April is expected to peak at around $2 billion,” Minister Hinchliffe said. 

“It’s a good result with Easter visitors to Queensland up 21% on last year.

“Tourism operators also recorded strong booking figures for the ANZAC Day long weekend, which coincided with the end of school holidays in NSW and Victoria.

Occupancy rates on the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Cairns and the Whitsundays held at 83% on average through the week with interstate visitors extending Easter breaks into ANZAC Day. 

Image: Yungaburra Triathlon courtesy Tourism and Events Queensland