New domestic tourism figures show the true impact that flooding and Cyclone Yasi had on Queensland while other States had good growth particularly South Australia, Western Australia and New South Wales.
The Minister for Tourism, Martin Ferguson AM MP, said these figures stressed the need to make sure recent initiatives were effective in helping to bolster the tourism industry.
"Last week’s Australia China Tourism Summit in Cairns complemented the hard work we’re doing on the ground to get Queensland’s tourism industry back on its feet.
"We’re trying to attract visitors through trade shows and advertising campaigns, while programs such as skills workshops and business advice services are helping tourism operators reposition their businesses.
"This is being done together with the Queensland Government through an injection of $12 million into the state’s tourism industry.
"We’re also working hard to foster closer links with China – our most valuable tourism market – and there is cause for greater optimism about the future," Minister Ferguson said.
The Minister Assisting on Tourism, Senator Nick Sherry, said domestic tourism was also grappling with a strong currency and more competition on overseas routes.
"Our task is to make sure the Australian tourism industry continues to invest in quality.
"Last week, for example, I hosted a business roundtable to galvanise investment in our tourism industry – especially from China.
"Our aim is to ensure sure the growing attraction of Australia as a tourist destination among Chinese travellers, translates into greater investment into Australia,” Minister Sherry said.
Tourism Research Australia’s National Visitor Survey shows overnight trips to Queensland fell by 15 per cent in the first three months of 2011, and nights were down by 25 per cent.
Nationally, overnight trips were up one per cent for the March Quarter and visitor nights were down three per cent. Over night trips were up for South Australia (14 per cent), Western Australia (12 per cent) New South Wales (7 per cent), Victoria (6 per cent) and Tasmania (4 per cent) and down for Queensland (15 per cent), ACT (37 per cent) and Northern Territory (8 per cent).
Tourism Research Australia’s National Visitor Survey is at: www.ret.gov.au/tra