FOREIGN HIKE IN T OURISM
MORE international visitors are choosing to holiday in our region and they’re spending $ 26 more a night.
That’s the message from Tourism and Events Queensland’s latest international tourism snapshot.
The figures, collected from Tourism Research Australia’s international visitor survey show that for the 12 months ending September 2017, the Townsville region’s international visitation increased by 10.5 per cent to 138,000.
International expenditure also grew by 23.7 per cent to $ 112.7 million, an average $ 26 extra per night for each visitor.
Holiday travel increased by 17.1 per cent to 113,000 visitors but visiting friends and relatives dropped by 14.2 per cent to 15,000. The decline in visiting friends and relatives is being blamed for a 15.8 per cent decline in total nights spent in Townsville.
The survey showed UK, Germany and US remained the most dominant markets.
Townsville Enterprise tourism and events manager Bridget Woods said the increasing international numbers were being driven by strong visitation to Magnetic Island.
“The operators on Magnetic Island have realised good growth,” she said.
“The backpackers come to the island for a break after they’ve worked elsewhere. It is really encouraging to see more money is being spent. I think it just goes to show the operators are providing experiences people are looking for.”
Ms Woods said the city had also seen a drop in visiting friends and relatives in the domestic tourism market.
“We really do encourage the Townsville community to be part of this, to support the city and encourage people to visit,” she said.
“Operators need to work with each other and share their knowledge to create positive experiences for visitors.”
SeaLink Townsville general manager Chris Briggs said Magnetic Island was a key destination for young visitors.
“The island has seen gradual increases in the international market over the past two years in particular from the youth market,” he said.
“We constantly hear from our young international visi- tors that it is the best place to see a koala in the wild, stunning beaches and living an island lifestyle and the word is spreading as a must- do on the east coast of Australia.”
Cathy Kenneally is one of the owners of Civic Guest House on Walker St in the Townsville CBD. She said they had noticed an uptick in guests in recent months.
“We are certainly enjoying the backpackers and they’re still coming, which is nice to see this late in the year,” she said.
Ms Kenneally said she agreed that Germany, the UK and the US were some of their strongest markets.