The Southern Great Barrier Reef (SGBR) destination is celebrating record-breaking international visitor numbers, cementing its place as one of Queensland’s fastest-growing destinations.
The SGBR destination encompasses the regions of Capricorn Coast region including Rockhampton, Gladstone region including Agnes Water/Town of 1770, Bundaberg region including North Burnett.
The latest data from Tourism Research Australia reveals that international spending across Queensland reached a record $6.9 billion in the year ending June 2025, up 10.6 per cent on the previous year.
Tourists splashed their cash in hotspots like the Gold Coast ($1.5 billion), Tropical North Queensland ($1.2 billion), the Sunshine Coast ($413.4 million), the Whitsundays ($254.0 million), Queensland Country ($149.4 million) and the Southern Great Barrier Reef ($128.4 million) – all hitting new records.
For the Southern Great Barrier Reef (SGBR), international visitation soared to 88,000 (up 9.8%), staying a total of 1.95 million nights (up 70.2%) with an impressive average length of stay of 22.2 nights (up nearly eight nights). International spend per visitor grew to $1,459 – a rise of 52.2%.
Mary Carroll, Chief Executive Officer of Capricorn Enterprise, said the results reflect years of strategic international investment:
“This growth is no accident. The Southern Great Barrier Reef’s success is the result of significant investment into international trade training for industry, trade shows, online webinars, key agent famils, and targeted marketing campaigns with key international wholesalers. By working collaboratively across our region, we are ensuring the Capricorn Coast and the broader SGBR continue to shine on the world stage.”
“Our targeted efforts in Europe/UK and NZ over a number of years in partnership with our Tourism Trade Ready operators, neighbouring regions and TEQ, and thanks to our EMDG (Export Marketing Development Grants) from the Federal government’s Austrade, are being reflected in these excellent results.”
“Out of the 88,000 international visitors across the Southern Great Barrier Reef destination, 42,000 visited our Capricorn Coast region which includes Rockhampton, 35,000 to the Gladstone region which includes Agnes Water/Town of 1770 and 27,000 to the Bundaberg North Burnett region.”
The six key international markets specifically driving visitation to the Capricorn Coast, Southern Great Barrier Reef are the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Germany, the United States, France and Scandinavia.
Southern Great Barrier Reef International Statistics at a Glance:
- SGBR overnight visitor expenditure to year ending June 2025 was $128.4 million, up 67.1 %, a NEW RECORD
- SGBR international visitors for year ending June 2025 was 88,000, up 9.8% year on year (60,000 of these visitors are here for a holiday, up 8.9%, 19,000 of these visitors are Visiting Friends and Relatives, up 76.3%)
- SGBR international visitor nights was 1.95 million, up 70.2% year on year
- SGBR Average Length of Stay for international visitors is 22.2 nights, up 7.9 nights year on year
- SGBR international Spend per night is $66
- SGBR international Spend per visitor is $1,459, up 52.2% year on year
