VISITORS INFLUX WELCOME

THE State Labor conference brought nearly 400 delegates to the city and injected cash into the local economy.

Townsville Enterprise chief executive Patricia O’Callaghan said according to Tourism Research Australia, each conference visitor brings in $ 403 per night.

That’s compared to $ 254 for events visitors.

“Visitors who come in for conventions tend to spend further money on hospitality and retail,” Ms O’Callaghan said.

“The fact that over the weekend there was a number of events, the feedback from operators was that the whole range of events was really positive across the board.”

Events at the weekend included the Townsville Cup, Strand Ephemera and the Australia Festival of Chamber Music.

Ms O’Callaghan said the next major conference coming to Townsville would be the AustralasiaPacific Extension Network conference in September, bringing 400 people to Townsville.

In October the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia Queensland conference will bring more than 160 people to town.

“Any major conference that is coming to Townsville has a positive impact on our business community and our broader community,” she said.

“They can spend on accommodation, as well as hospitality and retail.”