Sunshine Coast chuffed with 26.7% international visitor expenditure rise

AccomNews Wednesday, August 31, 2016

0 1 minute read

International visitors to Sunshine Coast are not only staying longer, but spending considerably more, according to the latest International Visitor Survey (IVS).

Figures show expenditure of $245.3 million for the year-to-the-end-of-June 2016, a rise of 26.7% compared to the year before.

The record result was revealed this week in IVS figures produced by Tourism Research Australia.

Key figures include (figures cover YTD June 2016 compared to the year before):

Expenditure by international visitors to Sunshine Coast up 26.7% to a record result of $245.3 million
Sunshine Coast international visitors grew by 3.5% to 266,000
Holiday travellers grew by 7.8% to 209,000
Overall international nights stayed on the Sunshine Coast were up 11.8% to 2.8 million nights, with average length of stay 10.6 nights pp
Sunshine Coast holiday nights were up 35.7% to 1.6 million with average length of stay 7.5 nights pp
Best performing markets included US (+36.2%) and New Zealand (+8%),
Backpackers to Noosa were down 5.1% but non-backpackers up 22%

“The lower Australian dollar has definitely had an impact but we believe it is the attraction of what we offer that is driving visitor numbers to the Sunshine Coast,” said CEO of Visit Sunshine Coast, Simon Latchford.

“We work very closely with our local partners in Noosa, Gympie and further afield – such as Fraser Coast – to create compelling reasons not only to visit, but stay longer. When you can experience the richness of the Sunshine Coast and Fraser Island you are experiencing a compelling combination of world heritage nature parks, the most attractive marine and rainforest experiences, and sophisticated dining and entertainment.

“Our attractions – particularly Australia Zoo, which had a huge profile in America in 2015 – have clearly had a profound effect on visitation, and with the prospect of a new runway at Sunshine Coast Airport, we have incredible potential to grow international visitation from the Asia Pacific region in the years to come.

“We were active participants in the Queensland Government’s Connecting with Asia Forum last week and we will be really targeting Asia in the future, but in the shorter-term, North America, Europe and New Zealand will continue to be our prime target markets.”