December 21, 2016
A decline in the CSG mining workforce and international tourists led to a decline in overall tourist visits to Southern Queensland Country (SCQ) in the year to June 2016, according to Tourism Queensland.
In its latest Tourism Snapshot released on Wednesday, Tourism Queensland reported the total number of domestic visitors to the SCQ region – which includes the South Burnett – dropped by 3.3 per cent in 2015-2016, and the total number of international visitors fell by 39.2 per cent.
Domestically, the biggest fall occurred in the business sector, which plunged by 21.5 per cent.
Tourism Queensland attributed this to the reduced labour force needed by the coal seam gas industry.
However, domestic holiday makers and those visiting friends and family both showed rises, of 15 per cent and 3.3 per cent, respectively.
Tourism Queensland also reported that in the year to June 2016, SCQ drew 10 per cent (1,198,000) of Queensland’s estimated visitors.
However room night sales in the SCQ region slumped by 16 percent, which was fuelled largely by the declines in business and international tourist numbers, and the estimated value of SCQ tourism fell to $721 million.
Two other poorly performing regions were Mackay, which saw a 12.8 per cent slump in tourist numbers, and Southern Great Barrier Reef (4.1 per cent decline).
Fraser Coast, which the South Burnett used to be affiliated to, saw an increase of 14.7 per cent, and seven other regions saw increases ranging between 6.1 per cent (Brisbane) and 30.6 per cent (Whitsundays).
Overall, Queensland’s tourism market grew by 5.7 per cent in the year to June 2016.
- External link: Tourism Snapshot Year Ending June 2016 (PDF)
