Southern Great Barrier Reef Visitation Continues to Grow!
Posted on March 21st, 2016
The Southern Great Barrier Reef destination (Capricorn, Gladstone (CQ) and Bundaberg regions) to the year ending December 2015, has been ranked the number 5 region in Queensland and number 14 region in Australia for domestic visitor nights!
This equates to 7.4 Million domestic visitor nights in 2015 and a total of 2 Million domestic Visitors.
This was an increase of 5% (or 89,000 domestic visitors) from the previous year ending December 2014.
The Tourism Research Australia (TRA) Domestic Visitor Survey Statistics also reveals that the average length of stay to our destination is 3.8 nights. Whilst the length of stay has decreased slightly from the previous year, overnight visitor expenditure has increased by 6% to $972 Million (up $52 Million) from the previous year.
The average spend of a domestic visitor is $487 which equates to $132 per night.
Of the 2 Million visitors to the SGBR destination in 2015, 30% are for holiday/leisure, 28% Visiting Friends and Relatives and 36% Business (about a third each).
Capricorn Enterprise chief executive Mary Carroll said “it is encouraging to see a 24% growth in our business travellers to the destination, much of which can be attributed to Beef Australia 2015 in Rockhampton which occurs every three years. Our intrastate numbers are looking good with a 5.5% growth which means we are not losing our core 400km market to other Queensland destinations.”
“Despite Tropical Cyclone Marcia on 20th February 2015, the hard work and team effort well and truly paid off to see these results” she said.
Gladstone Area Promotion and Development Ltd (GAPDL) chief executive Darryl Branthwaite echoed this view saying “the collaboration of our three regional tourist organisations with Tourism and Events Queensland is fundamental in helping to achieve these results for the Southern Great Barrier Reef destination. It really is a fantastic and collegial four way partnership which is also resonating in our new Cruise tourism into the Port of Gladstone.”
Bundaberg North Burnett Tourism (BNBT) General Manager Katherine Mergard said “With our strong partnership generating consistent and award winning marketing, our destination just keeps going from strength to strength. With new product development, showcasing our assets across the region, from the new Lady Musgrave Experience from Bundaberg, personalised tours and self-drive trails highlighting our abundant produce and then to the end of what could be our biggest turtle season yet, the region is excited about another big year.”
For comment:
Mary Carroll, Capricorn Enterprise – 0417 669 286
Darryl Branthwaite, Gladstone Area Promotion & Development Limited 0417 638 945
Katherine Mergard, Bundaberg North Burnett Tourism 0429 681 770
