Brisbane 11 December 2013. Queensland’s tourism industry received a $1 billion boost in overnight visitor expenditure in the year to September 2013, showing the Newman Government is delivering on its election promises.

Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and the Commonwealth Games Jann Stuckey welcomed the bumper result, which combines Tourism Research Australia’s latest National Visitor Survey and the International Visitor Survey figures released last week.

“The latest National Visitor Survey revealed almost 18 million Australians spent more than $14 billion on trips to Queensland,” Ms Stuckey said.

“This result represents a two per cent increase in visitors and a six per cent increase in visitor spending in the year to September 2013 compared with the year prior.

“Queensland’s key interstate visitor market of Sydney led the surge with travel increasing almost 30 per cent to 1.8 million, driven by residents’ love affair with holidays in the state.”

Business travel also delivered an extra boost with 3.3 million visitors spending almost $2 billion, an increase of seven and eight per cent respectively and the largest growth of anywhere in the country.

“This result shows that after years of Labor neglect, tourism is now going from strength to strength in Queensland,” Ms Stuckey said

“The Newman Government promised to grow tourism as one of the four pillars of the Queensland economy and we have committed to doubling overnight visitor expenditure from $15 billion to $30 billion by 2020.

“These results show that we are delivering on those election promises.”

Ms Stuckey said domestic visitor expenditure increased across a range of destinations from north to south.

“The Gold Coast was the most popular holiday destination in the state,” she said.

“In total, the Gold Coast welcomed 3.6 million Australians, including a 42 per cent increase in Sydneysiders, making it their most popular destination.

“In Brisbane, a series of tourism marketing activities and events, ranging from the Bolshoi Ballet to the Brisbane International Tennis, helped to attract a 17 per cent increase in holidaymakers and five per cent increase in overall visitor spend to $3.2 billion.

“A record 1.7 million Australians travelled to Tropical North Queensland in the year to September 2013, a 16 per cent increase on the previous year.”

Ms Stuckey said in the year since Tourism and Events Queensland was created to support industry growth, significant economic and social outcomes had been achieved.

“This information shows the positive impact of events and extensive marketing activity targeted at the domestic market,” she said.

For more information on the latest National Visitor Survey visit – www.te.queensland.com/research