Call to arms for Queenslanders to support their mates and holiday at home
The latest statistics from Tourism Research Australia show fewer Queenslanders holidayed at home in 2010, prompting Minister for Tourism, Manufacturing and Small Business Jan Jarratt to call on Queenslanders to stand by their state.
(Media-Newswire.com) - The latest statistics from Tourism Research Australia show fewer Queenslanders holidayed at home in 2010, prompting Minister for Tourism, Manufacturing and Small Business Jan Jarratt to call on Queenslanders to stand by their state.
“While the results show Queenslanders increased intrastate travel by five per cent and increased their length of stay by two per cent – those figures are largely attributable to business travel not holidays,” Ms Jarratt said.
“We have known for months that our tourism industry has been doing it tough as a result of high interest rates and poor weather, but with so many amazing deals on offer there’s no reason for locals not to holiday at home.
“I call on Queenslanders to holiday here this year - rediscover your favourite childhood holiday spots, visit old friends somewhere in the state or explore somewhere you haven’t been before.”
The National Visitor Survey revealed a “mixed bag” of results across the state.
Ms Jarratt said the domestic business market helped keep the industry buoyant, with some gains in the number of people visiting friends and relatives.
“Business visitors increased 27 per cent to 3.6 million while the number of Australians visiting friends or relatives in Queensland increased four per cent to 5.2 million last year,” Ms Jarratt said.
“This is some small good news for operators, given that last year was one of the most challenging ever for Queensland’s tourism industry.
“But we’re helping the industry fight back with last week’s launch of a range of marketing activities designed to tell the world that Nothing Beats Queensland.
“Nothing Beats Queensland as a holiday destination and nothing beats Queenslanders.”
Industry operators rose to the challenge of giving Queenslanders every reason to holiday at home today, committing to ramp up service levels signing “The Queensland Pledge”.
Ms Jarratt said travellers would notice “Pledge” businesses pulling out all the stops to give visitors the best holiday possible.
“The Queensland Pledge is the latest initiative from the joint State and Federal Governments’ $10 million tourism rescue package.
“Tourism operators across Queensland – from the largest hotels and resorts to the smallest B&Bs and tour operators – are committing to going that extra mile for visitors with unbeatable service and loads of Queensland generosity.
“With more than 222,000 Queenslanders employed through tourism, holidaying at home is one of the best ways to help our economy recover from summer’s floods and cyclones.”
Total Visitors Visitors % trend change Total Nights Nights % trend change Expenditure $m Expenditure % change YE Dec 09-10
Capricorn 842,000 -4% 3,028,000 -2% n/a n/a
Mackay 685,000 -2% 2,741,000 3% n/a n/a
Bundaberg 591,000 3% 2,027,000 5% n/a n/a
Whitsundays 501,000 -1% 2,172,000 3% $558 12%
Outback 370,000 -7% 1,849,000 1% n/a n/a
Gladstone 343,000 -8% 1,584,000 2% n/a n/a
Southern Downs 334,000 9% 779,000 6% n/a n/a
Western Downs 296,000 -20% 737,000 -21% n/a n/a
n/a – Expenditure data not available.
Source: National Visitor Survey, Tourism Research Australia.
Media Contact: 3224 2002
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