Business travel on the rise as billion dollar projects kick-off in the region!
Posted on July 23rd, 2019
Our thriving resources and mining sector along with strong education and health industries are reflecting consistent growth in domestic visitation across the Southern Great Barrier Reef (SGBR) destination with 711,000 business travelers (up 23.6%) touching down and spending time in the Capricorn (Central Highlands, Rockhampton and Capricorn Coast), Gladstone and Bundaberg Regions.
Capricorn Enterprise CEO Mary Carroll credits the increase in business visitors to not only the expansion of the CQ mining/resource industry and a record production of coal, but also the ongoing strong diverse economy in Rockhampton and the greater Central Queensland footprint including Emerald and Gladstone.
National Visitor Survey (NVS) results released for the March quarter (year on year) this week from Tourism Research Australia (TRA) reveal domestic tourism is up in Australia and Queensland, with the SGBR and the Capricorn Region continuing to punch well above its weight.
Alongside increased visitors through the business market, the Capricorn Region has also seen a large increase to holiday makers choosing Capricorn Coast, Rockhampton or Central Highlands as their destination. Of the 2.2 million total visitors to the SGBR, Capricorn played host to more than half, welcoming a total number of 1.23 million visitors, a 24.6% increase on the previous year.
“Our three-way SGBR partnership continues to go from strength to strength and we are so very proud of our industry partners, who work so very hard seven days a week ensuring our business and holiday visitors have exceptional experiences every day of the year.”
“The overall increase to visitors, whether for business or leisure to our region is a credit to our committed operators who are consistently providing exceptional service and unique experiences.”
From the Keppel Islands to the Central Highlands, the spend per night ($141) is reflected in an increase average length of stay of 4.4 nights, with overall expenditure in the Capricorn Region totaling $616 million (up 11.7%).
“Our average length of stay in Capricorn for domestic visitors is showing strong growth at 18.5% increase from the previous year, but we will remain working hard with industry to further increase that average stay,” she said.
The SGBR region continues to see record levels of visitation with a 9.3% total increase over the past 12 months.
“As one of the steadiest growth areas outside the southern corner, the Capricorn Region will continue to see the commencement of more than $3.5 billion worth of infrastructure projects generating unprecedented opportunities for regional business and local workforce over the next decade. With economic conditions improving, we look forward to even further increase to business travelers over the next 12 months” said Ms Carroll.
