Visitors Flock To Bowen

Visitors have been flocking to our region in the past week to enjoy their holidays over Christmas and New Year.

At the Bowen Visitor Information Centre next to the Big Mango, the team has been very busy, welcoming more than 1000 visitors in the three days immediately after Christmas.

The Centre was closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

When it re-opened on Friday, more than 400 people called in on one day.

Manager of Bowen Tourism and Business, Leanne Abernethy said most visitors were from Queensland but there were also a lot from inter-state.

“We also welcomed a lot of international travellers, mainly from the UK, US and Europe,” she said.

“This time of the year is always busy, and this year was no exception.

“A lot of visitors are staying in Bowen, some are obviously travelling through, but we have also noticed an increase in the number of people taking a day trip to Bowen from Airlie Beach.”

For the quarter ended December 31, the team at Bowen Tourism and Business welcomed more than 12,000 visitors – an increase of more than 6% compared to last year.

The increase in visitors has topped off a great year for the team as they received Gold at the Whitsundays Tourism Awards in the Visitor Services Category and then Bronze at State Level.

They also hosted Channel 7’s Weekender program early in the year and also picked up a bronze award in the Queensland Top Tourist Town awards.

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The Rathnayakage and Priyanthika family from Victoria called in at the Bowen Visitor Information Centre just before Christmas on their way to Cairns. They are pictured with Bowen Tourism and Business volunteer, Steve (Fish) Fisher. Photo supplied

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