Nth Qld busts record

FAR North Queensland has set new domestic records, with strong spending by visitors bringing a record $3 billion of tourism expenditure to the region’s economy for the year ending Mar.

The $3 billion record is up 18.8% from the 2019 same-period mark.

Tourism Tropical North Queensland Chief Executive Officer Mark Olsen said the latest National Visitor Survey figures showed Australian tourists were spending more and staying longer in the region, which is the strongest-growing in the state over the past year.

Olsen said the region is still $500m short of pre-COVID levels.