9.2% increase in domestic visitors to Sunshine Coast according to new reports

AccomNews Wednesday, July 1, 2015

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New National Visitor Survey (NVS) figures have revealed that the Sunshine Coast recorded a 9.2 per cent increase in overnight visitor numbers for the year ending March 2015 (compared to 2014), continuing its position as one of Queensland’s fastest growing tourism regions.

NVS figures for Queensland showed statewide growth of 5.1% in visitor numbers, with major tourist regions such as Tropical North Queensland up 0.2% and Gold Coast down 5.6%.
The figures for the Sunshine Coast followed a year of quarterly increases during 2014.

The 2015 Q1 statistics showed a 7.6% increase in intrastate visitors, 14.3% increase in interstate visitors, led by regional New South Wales, which produced a substantial 26% increase. Sydney visitors were up 9% and Melbourne up 15.9%.  Not only did visitor numbers increase but expenditure increased by 12.2% delivering $1.9 billion in revenue for the Sunshine Coast economy.

Sunshine Coast Destination Ltd (SCDL) CEO, Simon Ambrose, said the results would have benefited operators across the region – which encompasses Caloundra, Mooloolaba, Noosa, Gympie, Rainbow Beach, Sunshine Coast Hinterland and the Mary Valley.

Mr Ambrose said: “We will be emphasising the region’s rich food culture over the next three months with the launch of a new interactive mobile food site and the staging of the Real Food Festival in September, and this will further highlight the region’s rich diversity.

“With a host of events and new activities, as well as planned visits by cruise ships, winter is no longer a quiet time on the Sunshine Coast, with strong results in the first week of school holidays supporting this trend.”