As I wrap up my second month at Tourism Whitsundays, I’m really settling in and enjoying the chance to connect with our amazing Whitsundays community. It’s been a fantastic journey so far, and as we approach the end of the year, I wanted to share an update on tourism in our region.
This week, we received the National and International Visitor Survey update for the year ending September 2024, and the results are promising. Domestic tourism continues to grow, with visitor spend hitting $1.4 billion—up 12% from last year. We also saw a 2% increase in domestic visitors, reaching 742,000. The average visitor stayed longer too, with total nights rising 6% to 3.3 million, and average spend per person climbing by nearly 10% to $1,927.
On the international front, recovery is strong and in line with Queensland and Australia but still has a little way to go. Visitor numbers have hit 188,000, which is 85% of pre-pandemic levels and holiday visitor nights are up to 1.1 million, a recovery of 80%. Visitors from the UK and USA have seen significant growth, with numbers from the UK increasing by 30% and USA visitors increasing by 18%.
It’s clear that The Whitsundays continues to shine, and I’m excited to see what 2025 holds. Wishing everyone in The Whitsundays a Merry Christmas and a safe, relaxing holiday season!
Contributed by Tim Booth, CEO, Tourism Whitsundays
Tim Booth, CEO, Tourism Whitsundays.
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