{"id":224190,"date":"2018-11-28T18:24:46","date_gmt":"2018-11-28T08:24:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=224190"},"modified":"2020-07-25T14:31:19","modified_gmt":"2020-07-25T04:31:19","slug":"tourist-inquiries-drop-5pc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2018\/11\/28\/tourist-inquiries-drop-5pc\/","title":{"rendered":"Tourist Inquiries Drop 5pc"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Visitor numbers rose slightly or stayed static at the region’s Visitor Information Centres in July, but dropped away in August and September to finish the quarter in deficit<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

November 28, 2018<\/strong><\/p>\n

The number of inquiries at South Burnett visitor information centres dropped by more than 5 per cent during the latest quarter.<\/p>\n

Last year, volunteers at the Blackbutt, Nanango, Kingaroy, Wondai and Murgon centres hosted 20,903 visitors between July and September.<\/p>\n

But this year the number declined to 19,796 during the same period.<\/p>\n

Kingaroy and Nanango both enjoyed growth in July.<\/p>\n

Inquiries at Kingaroy’s VIC were up by 8 per cent and Nanango up by 10 per cent, compared with 2017.<\/p>\n

Wondai and Murgon held their own, recording roughly the same number of visitors this July as they did last year.<\/p>\n

However, numbers dropped across the region in August and September.<\/p>\n

In terms of sales, Kingaroy ($19,478) and Wondai ($10,079) were the two most successful centres during the quarter, with the remaining three generating $6613 combined.<\/p>\n

To generate those sales, volunteers donated 13,444 hours over the three months – the equivalent of 25 full-time jobs.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The data is contained in the South Burnett Regional Council’s quarterly Economic Development Report which was tabled at November’s monthly Council meeting.<\/p>\n

It was prepared by the Council’s Economic Development Office, which oversees the Visitor Information Centres.<\/p>\n

The quarter is traditionally a peak tourism period.<\/p>\n

In August, Council admitted visitor numbers at the centres had been in decline for more than a decade.<\/p>\n

This is partly due to changes in the way tourists sourced information and booked accommodation through the internet.<\/p>\n

Council foreshadowed it will be carrying out a study to look at the future of the centres, and trying to find ways to keep them relevant.<\/p>\n

Related articles:<\/strong><\/p>\n