Fewer Gold Coast visitors spend more
GOLD COAST – There were mixed results for international visitors to the Gold Coast in 2008, but they were in line with Gold Coast Tourism expectations.
Gold Coast Tourism CEO Martin Winter said more than 795,000 international tourists spent just over A$1 billion on the Gold Coast last year, showing a decrease in visitors but an increase in their spend.
“It was an extraordinarily challenging year for all tourism businesses across Australia, understandably national, state and regional international visitor numbers have been impacted.
“But the Gold Coast has held on to its visitors for longer periods and given them reason to spend more money in the city,†he said.
International Visitors, Spend and Nights on the Gold Coast
– International Visitors = 795,134 (down 7.4%)
– International Visitor Spend = $1.0 billion (up 9.1%)
– International Visitor Nights = 8,318,445 (up 11.5%)
International Visitors and Spend in Queensland
– International Visitors = 2,050,716 (down 5.6%)
– International Visitor Spend = $4.0 billion (up 9.3%)
International Visitors and Spend in Australia
– International Visitors = 5,166,843 (down 0.6%)
– International Visitor Spend = $16.7 billion (up 6.5%)
Winter said Gold Coast Tourism would progress with aggressive marketing activity in key international markets to increase its share of international visitors and visitor spend in 2009.
“The industry will also benefit from the introduction of increased airline access, investment in new or upgraded tourism assets and a unified tourism industry to see through the tough times and be well placed to really capitalise when the turn around comes,†he said.
Top Three International Source Markets by Visitor Number
-1. New Zealand Visitors = 211,200 (down 4.5%)
-1. Japan Visitors = 106,876 (down 28.3%)
-1. China Visitors 91,512 (down 18.1%)
Best Performing International Source Markets by Visitor Growth
-1. Malaysia Visitors = 30,769 (up 96.6%)
-1. United Kingdom Visitors = 72,240 (up 20.3%)
-1. Germany Visitors = 18,923 (up 10.8%)
Source: Tourism Research Australia – International Visitor Survey, Year Ending December, 2008
Ian Jarrett
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