Events, golf, food and adventure sports will be a major focus for the Sunshine Coast in future campaigns as operators in the region heralded the last 12 months as their best for seven years.
The local tourism body’s chief executive Simon Ambrose said business has been improving since April last year which has given tourism businesses on the Sunshine Coast a “shot in the arm”.
But he said Australia still has work to do in catching up with the rest of the world in terms of tourism growth.
“Worldwide tourism is expected to increase 6% per year until 2025, but in Australia by only 2%,” Ambrose said.
He said the Passenger Movement Charge (PMC) was among the major issues holding tourism back with the amount of revenue generated by the tax “minuscule” compared to the benefits that could be gained by reducing or eliminating the charge.
Ambrose also stressed that the Sunshine Coast was more than just “a couple of beaches”, as he highlighted the Hinterland, Noosa and Fraser Island as key attractions.
