Tourism Booming in Mackay
The Mackay Region is continuing to establish itself as a premier holiday destination according to data released by Tourism & Events Queensland showing record increases in visitation to the region.
International Visitor Survey (IVS) results* for year ending December 2017, show record levels of growth for international visitation to The Mackay Region. This has driven growth in tourism, transport and retail industries, and importantly created employment for the region.
50,000 international visitors were welcomed to The Mackay Region in 2017, a significant increase of 5.1% from 2016 and the fifth successive quarter of international visitation growth. Of these international visitors, 38,000 visited The Mackay Region purely for a holiday. This represented an increase of 7.4 per cent in international holiday visitation, encouraging signs as the region markets its signature experiences around the world.
The Mackay Region’s nature reserved marketing campaigns have proven a hit for visitors from Europe who contributed 32,000 visitors in 2017, a 3-year trend increase of 11.2 per cent. Germany has remained the largest source of international visitation with 9,000 visitors representing a 3-year trend growth of 21.6 per cent.
What these increases in international visitations means for the Mackay Region is an international visitor spend of $13.7 million for 2017, or $276 per international visitor representing a significant investment into the local economy.
General Manager of Mackay Tourism, Tas Webber, was very pleased with the increases in international visitation to the Mackay Region. “Five successive quarters of year on year international visitation growth is a major achievement and signifies the ever-increasing importance of tourism to the Mackay Region.”
Mr Webber continued “The Mackay Region is a must visit destination for international visitors, with our nature based experiences being major draw card. All over the world now people are talking about our Wallabies and Kangaroos at Cape Hillsborough, Platypus of Eungella National Park and net free fishing zone. With continued investment, The Mackay Region will build on its success and become one of Queensland’s, and indeed Australia’s most recognisable tourism destinations.”
Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson was delighted with the increase in international visitors to the region.
He said it showed the efforts of local stakeholders, who were working in collaboration, were paying off.
“Council is doing its bit through initiatives like our Invest Mackay Events Attraction Program. That funding helped secure the Sir Elton John ‘Once In A Lifetime’ tour, for example, which attracted international visitors to our region.
“Tourism represents a sustainable source of economic growth for our region and continued growth for the industry is something the entire community can benefit from and support”.
Contact:
Daniel Brown - Communications Officer
0448 994 180
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Published: 14 March, 2018