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International Tourism Still Feeling Global Fallout
| 10 June 2009
MEDIA RELEASE 10 JUNE, 2009
INTERNATIONAL TOURISM STILL FEELING GLOBAL FALL OUT
International visitors to the Gold Coast declined 7.8% but international visitor spend increased 4.0% during the toughest twelve months for Australia’s tourism industry in recent times.
Gold Coast Tourism CEO Martin Winter said more than 790,000 international tourists spent over $1 billion ($1,012,000,000) on the Gold Coast in the 12 months from April 2008 to March 2009, according to figures released today by Tourism Research Australia.
“The Gold Coast has increased international visitor expenditure and average length of stay which under the circumstances is a positive result for the region, but that doesn’t conceal the fact there are simply less tourists coming to Australia at the moment,” he said.
International Visitors, Spend and Nights on the Gold Coast
• International Visitors = 790,398 (down 7.8%)
• International Visitor Spend = $1.01 billion (up 4.0%)
International Visitors and Spend in Queensland
• International Visitors = 2,018,686 (down 6.5%)
• International Visitor Spend = $3.94 billion (up 0.5%)
International Visitors and Spend in Australia
• International Visitors = 5,122,723 (down 1.6%)
• International Visitor Spend = $16.97 billion (up 4.3%)
“These figures reflect industry expectations, businesses out there know recovery from a global financial crisis doesn’t happen in one or two quarters, but you can guarantee times will get better and the Gold Coast will continue to fight for every tourist,” Mr Winter said.
Top Three International Source Markets by Visitor Number
• New Zealand Visitors = 206,820 (down 8.1%)
• Japan Visitors = 108,704 (down 18.0%)
• China Visitors 92,221 (down 22.4%)
Best Performing International Source Markets by Visitor Growth
• Malaysia Visitors = 31,347 (up 71.7%)
• USA Visitors = 31,132 (up 24.7%)
• Germany Visitors = 20,000 (up 18.0%)
Source: Tourism Research Australia – International Visitor Survey, Year Ending March, 2009. Note: Tourism Research Australia – National Visitor Survey will be released Wednesday 17 June 2009, it will outline visitation from within Australia.
ENDS.
For further comment please contact:
Gold Coast Tourism Director Communications, Ben Pole
0437 343 104 or ben.pole@gctourism.com