Visitor numbers boost for Gold Coast tourism

Almost 3.5 million Australians spent $3.2 billion on visits to the Gold Coast in the year to March 2014, buoyed by a New Year boost in travel according to newly released figures.

Tourism Research Australia’s latest National Visitor Survey showed a strong start to the New Year for the Gold Coast’s tourism industry with visitor expenditure up 1.5%.

Commenting on the rise, Queensland Tourism Minister Jann Stuckey stated “Australians flocked to the Gold Coast for a summer break with holiday numbers growing 12% between January and March compared with the same time the year prior.

“Gold Coast holidays were particularly popular with Melbournians with travel from the key interstate market also increasing 11.3% during the year to March 2014.

“It shows the Government’s election promise to grow tourism and its strong plan for the industry is producing results and creating a bright future for the industry.”

Head of Flight Centre Australia Tom Walley said Queensland continued to be a popular choice for Flight Centre customers during summer and certainly the January to March quarter of 2014 proved a busy booking period. 

Walley added “Queensland symbolises the traditional family break, particularly for southerners, with family-friendly holiday hotspots such as the Gold Coast, Hamilton Island and Fraser Island all offering a range of fun activities from theme parks to surf schools.”

Minister Stuckey stated that the Queensland Government’s 20 year plan for tourism, Destination Success, provided a shared purpose and common goal between industry and government.

She continued “our focus is on preserving and growing the value of the domestic market, remembering the many Queenslanders who holiday in the state and many Australians who visit Queensland.

“The figures released today represent a 6% increase in domestic visitor spending in Queensland over a three-year trend.

“Throughout the year, Tourism and Events Queensland has worked in partnership with Gold Coast Tourism on a range of marketing activities including a pre-summer Famous for Fun ‘And Action’ campaign in partnership with Gold Coast Airport and Jetstar, an interstate Famous for Fun ‘And Action’ pre-winter campaign and a Gold Coast supplement distributed through News Limited publications.”

More information about Tourism Research Australia’s National Visitor Survey for the year ended March 2014 is available at www.teq.queensland.com 

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