Domestic visitor numbers to the Fraser Coast continue to grow

2018-10-03

The number of overnight visitors to the Fraser Coast from Australian domestic markets has maintained the momentum of recent surveys with a record number of leisure visitors to the region in the year to June 2018. 

Figures compiled by Tourism Research Australia and released today, show overnight domestic visitors to the Fraser Coast totalled 740,000 in the year, up 8.1% on the three year trend. 

More than 85% of these visitors (635,000) were visiting for leisure, which was up 7.3% on the three-year average and a record for the region.

Total overnight spend of $419m in the year to June was also strong, up more than 15% on trend. This was driven by a 3% increase in average length of stay to 4.5 days, with an average spend of $566 per visitor, up almost 6% on the three-year average.

Commenting on the results, Fraser Coast Tourism & Events general manager Martin Simons said the strong growth in numbers showed the combined efforts of industry operators led by Fraser Island was keeping the region top of mind.

“The two main overnight visitor segments – people on holiday and those visiting friends and relatives – were up 10% and 5% respectively.

“As expected, the numbers reinforce our position as a drive market, with 78% of domestic overnight visitors (578,000) from within Queensland, with Brisbane is our largest market up more than 7% on  trend.”

The region received 162,000 visitors from interstate in the year, with New South Wales delivering two thirds of this number.
The Fraser Coast increase outstripped Queensland visitor growth in the year to June, which was up 4.7% and visitor spend was also above State growth of 10.3%. 

Mr Simons said the work being done by FCTE in the caravan sector, events, summer and winter marketing and the new military and mural product in Maryborough was all contributing.

“We have just had two of our busiest months at our visitor centres in Maryborough and Hervey Bay which augers well for the next quarterly survey.”

Domestic overnight visitors represent about half the annual total of all visitors to the region, with 627,000 day trippers and about 148,000 international overnight visitors making up the 1,515,000 annual visitor number.

Total visitor spend in the region is about $510m, with day trippers estimated to spend almost $55m a year.

 “The domestic overnight number is the key barometer of the region’s tourism growth because it makes up more than 82% of total visitor spend,” he said.

Annual tourism visitation numbers are provided each quarter on a rolling basis. Strong figures had also been recorded by Tropical North Queensland, Southern Great Barrier Reef and South Queensland Country.
 
ENDS
 

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