OUTBACK Queensland continues to prove itself as a popular travel destination with a record 878,000 domestic overnight visitors flocking to the area last year and spending $585 million.
That’s according to the latest Tourism Research Australia data released today which shows the Outback experienced a 27.5 per cent growth in domestic overnight visitor expenditure and an 18.4 per cent growth in overall domestic visitor numbers last year.
Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones said the data was a great coup for Outback Queensland.
“Tourism is becoming an important part of the local economy in the Outback and this data just goes to show how lucrative the domestic visitor market is for Queensland,” she said.
“We need to diversify our economy and that’s why tourism is such an important industry for Queensland moving forward.
“We’re investing an extra $170 million in this sector over the next few years to make sure we continue to grow tourism in Queensland.
“Outback Queensland will be an important part of that strategy to grow tourism numbers in our state.”
Minister Jones said with the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games just a week away, they hoped to continue the love affair with domestic travellers.
“...and will be rolling out the welcome mat for interstate visitors and Queenslanders alike as the biggest event in Australia this decade gets under way,” she said.
