In Australia, numbers are looking positive for Queensland’s Sunshine Coast: The beach destination is reporting solid growth in international arrivals, according to the International Visitor Survey data reported in CIM Magazine.
The figures showed a 1.8 percent increase in international arrivals, an 8 percent growth in overall visitor nights and a 23.1 percent rise in international visitor spending to $214.5 million for the 2013-14 year compared to 2012-13.
Top markets for the region include New Zealand, Canada and several European countries.
Sunshine Coast Destination Ltd chief executive Simon Ambrose said that while the figures were impressive, information from Sunshine Coast operators suggested that the last six months had produced an even stronger recovery, far outperforming the corresponding six months in 2013.
Ambrose credited sporting events like last weekend’s Sunshine Coast Marathon and the upcoming Ironman and Tri Multi Sports Festivals for the boost in numbers, as well as this month’s Noosa Jazz Festival, Real Food Festival, and HinterLand arts festival.