Business
2 October, 2023
Economic powerhouse
A RECORD 2.5 milllion Aussies have holidayed in the Far North in the past financial year.
The figures were up 23.3 per cent over the previous year and 14.6 per cent higher than 2019 (pre-COVID).
Total overnight visitor expenditure of $4.3 billion was an increase of 36.4 per cent year on year. The spend per night was $330, up 21.1 per cent year on year.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, who was in Cairns this week, said a record $33.2 billion was spent in the state.
“Records continue to tumble as more visitors come to Queensland but we know that number can be even higher,” she said.
“Airline prices shouldn’t be a barrier for people wanting to come and enjoy our beautiful state so I’d really love to see those providers bring their prices down.
“Now, what we do want to see though, is we want to see the prices of flights to come down.
“So I’m urging Qantas and Virgin today to think seriously about how they can lower the flights to make it more economical for families to travel.”
Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said “these terrific results show the continued hard work and commitment of Queensland tourism operators to build back better post-pandemic and shine on the national and international stage”.
“What we’re seeing with overseas visitor spending puts the $200m Attracting Aviation Investment Fund on track to generate $1.6bn a year and 20,000 Queensland jobs,” he said.
Cairns MP and assistant tourism minister Michael Healy (above) said “tourism was an economic powerhouse in Queensland, driving investment and career opportunities across our vast state”.
“As tourism continues to emerge from COVID, we see Queensland’s dominance in the domestic market grow,” he said.
“Our domestic numbers are very strong. And as I said, they’re above normal. But what we do want to see is we want to see international passengers coming back. And we know the best way to do that is increased capacity into the region.
“There are still significant challenges. Obviously one of the big movers is China. China have only recently announced that they’re actually going to be allowing groups to start traveling so we’re slowly seeing them emerge.
“But at the moment, travelling overseas or anywhere internationally, there’s still issues with international airlines, so that will have to work itself out with greater capacity.”
Barron River MP Craig Crawford said in Cairns and the Far North, “we know tourism is a key pillar of our economy”.
“With record domestic visitor numbers and international tourism on the rebound, we’ve got a bright outlook ahead,” he said.
