Tasmania is gaining momentum as a business events destination and defying its perception as a runner-up to the Australian mainland, according to new research.
The latest Tasmanian Visitor Survey shows business event visitor numbers have grown nine percent since December 2010. Delegate numbers were 35,400 for the year ending December 2011, up from 32,500 the previous year. There were also 15,000 business event visitors to Tasmania for the final quarter of 2011, representing an 83% increase compared to the same period in 2010.
Business Events Tasmania chief executive Stuart Nettlefold said the figures were evidence that Tasmania was gaining ground on its key competitor – mainland Australia.
“There has always been a perception that Tasmania was further away, more expensive and could only host up to 500 delegates, but we’re becoming more recognized as a conference business event destination as people realize this is not the case,” he told The Nibbler. “These figures are evidence that Tasmania punches well above its weight.”
Nettlefold said the gains followed renewed efforts to market Tasmania as a business events destination, adding that bookings were up for the traditionally quieter months of May through September.
“We’ve always been active in promoting Tasmania with the mainland in mind, but this research shows we’re raising Tasmania’s profile and seeing some good activity in the conferencing sector,” he said.
In other findings, the Tasmania Visitor Survey found that delegates are staying longer and spending about $100 more each day during their stay. Tasmania also received an honourable mention for its standard of service, food and wine offering and array of restaurants.
