Gold Coast recovery taking shape
International tourist numbers to Australia lifted in the year to June but overall the picture is patchy.
Business travel was strong – numbers were up nine per cent with Asian markets the strongest performers, led by China with an increase of 26 percent.
Overall latest figures show the number of visitors coming to Australia was up by three per cent in the year to June, despite the strong dollar, natural disasters in Queensland and global economic turbulence.
Visitor nights also rose by four per cent, and spending by five per cent.
It was a different story on the Gold Coast where international visitor arrivals declined nine percent in the 12 months to June 2011 according to figures released by Tourism Research Australia.
As expected, tourist arrivals from the Gold Coast’s first and third largest international source markets, New Zealand and Japan respectively, were significantly reduced in the first half of 2011 due to the natural disasters in those countries impacting total international visitor numbers for the 12 months to June.
“Industry estimates had put the impact anywhere between 10 percent to 40 percent, now we have a much clearer picture,” said Gold Coast Tourism CEO Martin Winter.
“The upside is that January to June captures the worst of the issue, we know both markets have been improving post June.
“Five years ago these events would have been disastrous for the Gold Coast because we were so heavily reliant on New Zealand and Japan, but we have been actively diversifying our international visitor base focusing on China and south east Asia with good success and this has offset a valuable degree of the total decline,” Winter added.
Ian Jarrett
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airbnb eyes a loyalty program but details remain under wraps
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026