Queensland crowned tourism capital of Australia

New data has revealed Queensland as the tourism capital of Australia, with the Sunshine State attracting more than 20 million domestic travellers in the 12 months leading up to March this year.

Tourism Research Australia data released on Wednesday shows visitors are spending 25 per cent more on Queensland travel in comparison with pre-pandemic days in March 2019.

Queensland traditionally sits in third place behind NSW and Victoria, but this year it is Australians’ favourite place to visit.

Statistics reveal visitor spending in Tropical North Queensland was up 20 per cent on 2019 levels, while the Whitsundays and the Sunshine Coast hit all-time records.

The Whitsundays were hit with 844,000 visitors on their way to explore the Great Barrier Reef, generating more than $1bn for the first time, while Cairns and Tropical North Queensland experienced an increase of almost 20 per cent in domestic travellers compared with 2019 figures.

Further south, the Sunshine Coast felt an almost 6 per cent increase in tourism compared with 2019. Visitors spent a record of almost $3bn.

The Gold Coast figures showed tourists were forking out above the normal spending levels, with the average visitor spending $959 per person – up 10 per cent on 2019 levels.

The Gold Coast has flipped domestic tourism on its head, hitting 95 per cent of their pre-Covid levels.

Queensland Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the results were proof that Queenslanders rallied behind tourism operators in the absence of international travellers.

“Queensland’s unique visitor experiences are the envy of Australia and the world with so many breathtaking iconic attractions from the Great Barrier Reef to outback dinosaurs found only in Queensland.” he said.

“Many Australians are discovering just how spectacular the Great Barrier Reef and the world’s oldest rainforest are for the first time and they are blown away that Cairns is a cosmopolitan tropical city with accommodation, food and beverage offerings equal to those in our capital cities,”

Overall, Sunshine State visitors stayed longer and spent a combined $17.9bn.

The strong growth follows the state government committing to a $15m fund to encourage the development of new visitor attractions.

Grants of up to $200,000 will be available for new tourism projects with “high growth potential”.