Queensland the nation’s No. 1 tourism performer according to Tourism Research Australia

As Queensland leads the nation with its post-pandemic tourism bounce-back, a popular new attraction is packing ’em in.

Queensland’s tourism industry has been given the perfect Christmas present, with new figures revealing the state continues to lead the nation in the post-pandemic recovery.

Statistics to be released by Tourism Research Australia on Wednesday highlight the Queensland tourism sector’s remarkable resilience with domestic visitor spending hitting a new record – far higher in the year to September than the same time in 2019, in a $24.5 billion coup for the industry.

Queensland pipped NSW by just one per cent for the top spot nationally, with Victoria a whopping 43 per cent behind in third place.

Domestic holiday visitor numbers were also higher than before Covid-19 with the Sunshine Coast, Whitsundays, Fraser Coast, Mackay and Southern Queensland Country all breaking all-time domestic visitor records.

Brisbane also hit a record in domestic visitor spending, with the figure of $5.5b up three per cent on 2019, while the city also attracted its highest number of holiday visitors ever (2.2m).

It was a similar story on the Gold Coast, which saw a record $4.2b in domestic visitor spending.

While international visitor numbers continue to lag behind pre-Covid-19 levels, the huge surge in domestic holiday numbers and spending has the industry firing on all cylinders heading into the traditional summer holiday peak season.

Queensland Tourism Industry Council CEO Brett Fraser said the sector’s recovery had been “nothing short of spectacular”.

“To progress from closed borders and experiences to celebrating record-breaking visitor numbers and spending is an enormous relief for operators,” he said.

“It’s incredible that our state’s tourism industry has not only rebounded back to pre-Covid numbers, but that we’ve surpassed those figures.

Alice, 7, Emma, 11, Becky, 14, Ben, 7, Kenneth and Debs Sauer at Riverfront Hobby Farm in Moggill as part of Hipcamp outdoor stays. Picture: Josh Woning

“To see Queensland topping the nation in domestic visitor spending is the best Christmas gift our industry could ask for.

“We owe much of Queensland tourism’s revival to the undiminished appetite of Australians for travel.

“But tourism’s recovery is also due in large part to the resolve and determination of our operators in providing visitors in Queensland with a memorable experience.”

Brisbane Economic Development Agency CEO Anthony Ryan said the city’s increasing national profile and reputation was translating to more visitors.

“(We have) been targeting interstate travellers since borders reopened earlier this year, now we’re seeing fantastic results with visitor numbers bouncing back from lockdown,” he said.

“People see Brisbane on the news, and in their social media feeds, and can tell it’s an exciting place to be.”

Destination Gold Coast head of stakeholders and strategy Rachel Hancock said the results were “a great sign”.

“With a strong summer holiday period at our doorstep, tourism on the Gold Coast continues to shine and we are buoyed with confidence that 2023 will continue to see our visitor economy strengthen on all fronts,” she said.

“We have a lot to be excited for in the year ahead including the launch of a multimillion-dollar campaign to broaden our audience reach, landing more international connections and strengthening the weekday economy.”

International visitor numbers and spending were still well down on pre-Covid-19 figures, but the year to September included the three months before international borders reopened.

It means the next round of data, to be released in March, could see Queensland record its best-ever tourism results, which would have seemed unthinkable in the darkest days of the pandemic.

A-CAMPING WE ALL GO

It’s Queensland tourism’s backyard boom.

New data from tourism operator Hipcamp has shown a rise in the number of people booking Queensland camping getaways on private property.

Described as the Airbnb of camping, Hipcamp operators are often people living on large blocks, acreage or farms who allow guests to camp or caravan on their land.

The concept has exploded in popularity since the closure of international borders during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Queensland saw a 93 per cent increase in Hipcamp bookings this summer, well above the national average of 79 per cent. Hipcamp Australia operations manager Brooke Wood said value for money, peace and quiet were behind the surging popularity.

“People are craving that quietness that you don’t find at a caravan park with 200 other sites next door,” she said.

Kenneth Sauer is taking his family on the road this summer and said he liked the wide open spaces available for camping.

“We like to get off the beaten track, and this is a great way to do it,” he said.

BY THE NUMBERS

* Queensland overnight domestic visitor expenditure: $24.5b (new record and 26 per cent higher than 2019)

* 10.7m holiday visitors to Queensland (7 per cent higher than 2019)

* New record domestic visitor numbers for Sunshine Coast, Whitsundays, Fraser Coast, Mackay and Southern Queensland Country

* New record domestic visitor spending for Brisbane ($5.5b) and Gold Coast ($4.2b)

* Queensland retains top spot as state with highest domestic visitor spending ahead of NSW and Victoria

* International visitor spending $1.4b (well below pre-Covid-19)

Figures from Tourism Research Australia for the year to September 30