GOLD COAST – Australian visitors to the Gold Coast declined 9.6 percent and Australian visitor spend on the Gold Coast decreased almost one percent in the year to December 2008, according to data released by Tourism Research Australia.
Gold Coast Tourism CEO Martin Winter said 3.3 million Australian tourists spent A$2.9 billion on the Gold Coast in what was a tough year for the entire tourism industry.
“The businesses of the Gold Coast tourism industry aren’t surprised by the data which indicates less Australians travelled domestically in 2008. We have been discussing a slip in domestic tourism numbers for some time,†he said.
“However that doesn’t mean we accept any decline and the Gold Coast tourism industry has fought back with increased marketing activity focused on our biggest source markets and high conversion segments.
“This is reflected in the current YourCoast campaign targeting South East Queensland residents, substantial advertising action with our airline partners, and tactical promotions on radio, television, cinema, print, online, billboards, buses, trams and direct mail all selling our city to potential holiday makers right now.
“Gold Coast Tourism will only intensify our aggressive approach to stimulate interest, achieve conversion, increase visitation and indeed steal market share from competing destinations,†Winter said.
