Chinese visitors splash the cash

TOURISTS are flooding into the Gold Coast in record numbers, with a surge in Chinese spending getting the attention of tourism bosses.

International visitors into Australia’s tourism capital jumped 3.8 per cent to 1.05 million and then spent $1.3 billion, up 10.6 per cent, latest indicative figures show for the year to March 31.

The 10.6 growth in spend outstripped the rate for Queensland at 6.4 per cent and Australia at 6.7 per cent.

Chinese tourists continued to lead the pack into the Gold Coast with 301,000 pouring in – almost 6000 a week – for the 12 months, up 2.2 per cent.

But their spend was up a whopping 16 per cent, pumping $359 million into the Gold Coast economy.

Destination Gold Coast CEO Martin Winter said the likely reason for the surge in Chinese tourist spending was either “they are staying longer or there are more Free

and Independent Travellers (FIT) as a percentage instead of tour groups”.

A higher number of middle to upper income Chinese making repeat visits could also be responsible, plus more high-spending Chinese corporate incentive trips.

New Zealand visitor numbers dipped three per cent to 193,000, UK visitors were largely static with 0.8 per cent down to 65,000 and Japan dropped 6.1 per cent to 62,000.

Overall international visitor nights were up 4.7 per cent to 9.7 million.

Mr Winter said the reasons fewer Kiwis visited was not clear but there was intense competition from Pacific island hot spots such as Fiji, and direct flights to Hawaii.

“That is attractive for New Zealanders. We’re not expecting the NZ numbers to go anywhere – holding our own in that market will be a good result,” Mr Winter said.

“Overall, all the indices are at record numbers so we can’t complain. But it doesn’t mean we can relax, it is an ongoing battle.”

Gold Coast-based Federal Trade, Tourism and Investment Minister Steven Ciobo said the Chinese visitor growth and spending surge had established them “as a rock solid market for our tourism industry”.

Overall international figures were very strong, proving the Gold Coast to be a destination of choice for international tourists, he added.

“International visitor numbers are up, they are staying longer and spending more and this is great news for the Gold Coast’s tourism industry, which is the backbone of our economy,” he said.

Mr Ciobo said despite international tourism spend recording strong growth, a drop in domestic visitor spend had affected the overall performance of the Gold Coast.

BULLETIN VIEW, P18