Queensland’s tourism industry is forecast to welcome an extra 14 million domestic and international visitor nights a year by the end of the decade.
The Tourism Forecasting Committee says the number of visitor nights in Queensland is forecast to be 125 million by 2020, up from 111 million in 2010, an average annual rise of 1.2 per cent.
The forecasts suggest the number of visitor nights will rise faster in Brisbane than in the rest of Queensland.
The number of international business-related visitor nights in Queensland is forecast to stand at 1.7 million by 2020, an average annual rise of 2.2 per cent. The forecast annual growth in inbound visitor nights for holiday travel and visiting friends and relatives in Queensland are 3.0 per cent and 2.5 per cent respectively.
Domestic visitor nights in Queensland are forecast to be adversely impacted by the recent floods and cyclone Yasi this year. However, there is expected to be growth well above the national average in 2012 and slightly higher growth than nationally through to 2017.
“Tourism brings $7.8 billion a year into Queensland’s economy,” said the Minister for Tourism, Martin Ferguson AM MP.
“With so much economic prosperity at stake from this vital industry, not least among the 118,000 Queenslanders directly employed in tourism, through the National Long Term Tourism Strategy we are doing the hard work to unleash more investment in hotels, transport and tourism infrastructure.
“Emerging markets, especially China, offer fresh opportunities to invest in quality tourism experiences for the future – both for domestic travellers and those from overseas.
“Our tourism industry must improve on the supply side. For example, the 2020 Tourism Industry Potential estimates we’ll need another 40,000 to 70,000 rooms across Australia by the end of the decade. We’ll need up to 150,000 more jobs in tourism too.
“A collective focus is essential. By working with state governments and industry on capacity-building measures such as planning, transport and skills, Australia will be in better shape to welcome more visitors,” Minister Ferguson said.
The Tourism Forecasting Committee’s regional forecast tables are at www.ret.gov.au/tra