Queensland tourist spend in 2022 thrashed pre-COVID levels

By James Harrison

The Queensland tourism industry’s record recovery continues with the latest data from Tourism Research Australia (TRA) for the year to December 2022 showing a 26.5 million overnight visitors spent a record $30 billion.

Queensland recorded the highest amount of domestic overnight visitor expenditure among all states and territories at $27.8 billion, the State’s sixth consecutive record and highest ever total domestic spend.

The State’s domestic spend was up 42.8 per cent on the previous 2019 pre-COVID high.

The Gold Coast, a popular tourist destination (iStock/zstockphotos)

For overnight visitor expenditure, nine Queensland tourism regions achieved records including Brisbane, Gold Coast, Tropical North Queensland, Sunshine Coast, Southern Great Barrier Reef, Southern Queensland Country, Townsville, Fraser Coast and Mackay.

Tropical North Queensland, the Sunshine Coast and the Outback achieved highs for holiday visitors.

State-wide holiday visits hit a record 11 million trips, an increase of 10 per cent on 2019.

“The State’s 11 million holiday trips confirm Queensland as the nation’s leading getaway destination and demonstrates our Towards Tourism 2032 roadmap is on track,” QLD tourism minister Stirling Hinchcliffe said.

“We’re seeing destinations across the state breaking records for overnight visitors spending to deliver the sixth consecutive record.”

Queensland’s international visitor industry is recovering off the back of the Palaszczuk Government’s $200 million international aviation war chest with spending climbing to $2.3 billion from 916,000 overseas visitors.

Business travel to Queensland reached $3.5 billion, up 7.4 per cent on pre-Covid spend with 5.2 million business visitors during 2022 and outperforming the national average during the December quarter.

“Tourism and Events Queensland is ensuring Queensland stays top of mind for travellers with campaigns currently live across the world,” Patricia O’Callaghan chief executive officer, Tourism and Events Queensland said.

“In Australia and New Zealand, the ‘Queensland is Calling’ campaign aims to give consumers a new ‘why’ for travelling to Queensland, unearthing experiences and destinations the typical traveller to Queensland may not have experienced.

“Globally our campaign ‘A beautiful way to be’ shows international travellers that a trip to Queensland is more than a holiday, it’s an experience that will change your outlook, through deeper, more meaningful connections.

“Our trade partnership activity continues with more than 30 campaigns currently live, and we continue to build on our $750 million It’s Live in Queensland events calendar to help pave the green and gold runway to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”

Featured Image: Whitehaven Beach, Whitsundays (iStock)

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Patricia O’Callaghan QLD Tourism queensland tourism Stirling Hinchcliffe Tourism and Events Queensland